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2021 US Open winner and British tennis star Emma Raducanu announced her return to the tour with a comeback win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the 2024 ASB Classic. Raducanu registered a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory after being sidelined for 269 days with injury. As the match ended, Raducanu got emotional as she exchanged pleasantries with her opponent.
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The former U.S. Open champion was out of action for the majority of 2023 after operations on both wrists and an ankle but returned to Auckland with a protected ranking for a year. Facing her close friend, Ruse and Raducanu shared the first two sets. The final set saw the world No 301 take a 5-2 before losing three games and blowing match points. But Raducanu finally broke the qualifier again and served out to clinch the victory on the third time.
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Reacting to this performance, an emotional Raducanu spoke about being grateful for her health and the ability to play tennis at the highest level. She also spoke about being happy about returning to the tour and hoped to have an injury-free year.
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The 2021 US Open winner said, "It’s difficult after having such a long hiatus but I’m grateful to be healthy, I’m grateful to be able to move my body, not like bedridden or in a wheelchair. So it’s pretty amazing to be just out here and playing and I’m just pretty happy to be out here on the tour and can’t wait to start the season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy.
