Raducanu ‘not 100%’ but fights needle phobia to make French Open

Emma Raducanu says getting over her “biggest phobia,” or fear of needles, is helping her prepare for her French Open debut.

The British number two has been “managing” the problem during Roland Garros practice since suffering a back spasm earlier this week at a warm-up tournament in Strasbourg.

“We’re working toward that,” the statement reads. “It feels okay, it feels good, but not entirely.” I have a few days left, Raducanu told BBC Sport.

The 22-year-old, who previously had a similar problem before this year’s Australian Open, claims dry needling and heat therapy have helped to relieve the condition.

“I would say that the one before Australia was worse.” The 43rd-ranked Briton, who made her only previous French Open appearance three years ago, admitted to feeling caught before the situation was completely locked up.

“I was terrified of needles at the beginning of the year. My biggest fear was about it. That would be the only way I could play for Australia.

Raducanu, who recovered from wrist and ankle surgeries in April 2023, has made significant progress this year, regaining her position in the top 50 after falling out of the top 300 the year before.

The 2021 US Open champion has won more matches than he has in the previous five months of the season.

However, Raducanu claimed that clay courts, which require more of a lower back strain because of longer rallies and higher bounced balls, only add to her back issues.

Although she isn’t putting herself in any further danger, her improved this season has been largely due to her greater resilience.

Since returning from missing the majority of the 2023 campaign, she has put more emphasis on listening to her body and not her former coaches.

“I just kept pushing through,” Raducanu continued, “because people were telling me that I wasn’t tough enough, that I needed to just work through it.”

When I realized I was training so hard and that I was feeling fatigued, I thought it was normal, and I realized it was more than just soreness.

With Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal competing for the top spot in the UK, Raducanu now has a three-way tussle with her.

Boulter, who has won a clay-court title last week on the second-tier WTA 125 tour, strengthens her position as the nation’s top women’s player for almost two years.

The victory placed the 28-year-old 38th in the world, five places ahead of Raducanu and 15 ahead of Kartal, who is 23 years old.

“I want to see anyone pushing me up the rankings, including Sonay and Emma,” said Boulter.

“I’m going to concentrate on myself first. Being the first British person to do so is a privilege, but it’s not my goal either.

I don’t want to write “I’ve been that for ten years,” on a piece of paper.

Boulter’s chances of retaining the position would increase if he were to win the French Open main draw for the first time in his career.

After a significant increase last year, Kartal is making her French Open main draw debut.

After recovering from an unnamed illness that raised concerns about her career, she was ranked 278th a year later.

Kartal is currently in the top 50, but a potential second-round matchup with Coco Gauff, who finished in 2022, might hinder Kartal’s ability to earn significant ranking points at Roland Garros.

Kartal, who squares off against Russian Erika Andreeva, said, “I love the clay, I grew up playing on it. On these courts, I feel at ease for me. They seem to work really well for me.

British number seven Jodie Burrage, who is making her main-drawn debut using a protected ranking, joins the trio in the women’s singles.

The 25-year-old ruptured an ankle ligament while chasing down a drop-shot in practice last year, making it impossible for him to play.

Burrage said a photo reminder from this week that showed her wearing a protective boot gave her a welcome boost ahead of her tough matchup with American former world number seven Danielle Collins.