Emma Raducanu shares poignant message on social media after pulling out of tournament due to injury - as she posts training picture ahead of Australian Open

• e-mail

Emma Raducanu took to social media to provide an update after she was forced to withdraw from a tournament in the build-up to the Australian Open.

Raducanu revealed on Monday that she would not be competing in the ACB Classic in Auckland due to a back injury, derailing her preparation for the first Grand Slam of 2025. 

The 22-year-old instead flew to Melbourne and is still hopeful of competing at the tournament Down Under but she will go in with no match practice.

‘Tried my best to be ready,’ Raducanu had said in a statement. ‘I love Auckland and the fans here but unfortunately picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.’

And, on Thursday, Raducanu took to social media to give fans an update ahead of the Australian Open getting underway on Sunday, January 12. 

Sharing 11 photos or clips on her Instagram page, Raducanu captioned the post: 'Being grateful for health and channelling into growth.'

Emma Raducanu shared a cryptic post on social media ahead of the Australian Open starting 

Raducanu provided an update after pulling out of the ACB Classic in Auckland due to injury

She shared 11 different photos or clips in her post, including this message from WhatsApp

The cryptic post saw the Brit doing a variety of different activities. Some of the photos and videos within it saw her smiling, stretching and warming up, while another was Raducanu cycling, yet it was a couple of the others on the carousel that generated attention.

One appeared to be a screenshot of a WhatsApp message Raducanu had sent to someone.

It read: 'It's funny you forget how much for granted you take being fit is & only remember when you're on the sidelines again,' in a clear nod to her injury struggles.

However, in better news for the 22-year-old and her fans, another of the snaps Raducanu used showed her seemingly back on court training in the sunshine in Melbourne.

Elsewhere, a further photo she shared was a screenshot of a motivational quote that read: 'You're never really working, and you're never really not working.'

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Raducanu will be fit for the Grand Slam but her back niggle is yet another injury for a player who has had more than her fair share – and an unfortunate start to the 22-year-old's partnership with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura.

She played only 14 events last year – fewer than all but two other players in the top 100 – and has vowed to get on court more often in 2025.

Raducanu did share a photo of her back on court training in better news for her supporters

One of the other shots from the 22-year-old's Instagram carousel was a motivational quote 

Speaking in early December, Raducanu said she is determined to give physical issues the proper time to heal, rather than ‘firefighting any niggles’. Her withdrawal from Auckland could be a case in point.

Asked why she believes she has struggled with injury so far in her career, Raducanu said: ’Part of it load: This tournament is happening, and I really want to play it, but I’ve not put in enough training and literally in the first match something starts hurting.

‘I got into that vicious cycle, and it’s pretty dangerous to be in. So I think just making certain load decisions and ensuring I’ve had a build up and proper training. That my body is ready, rather than just firefighting any niggles.’

Raducanu and her team will hope that by taking the cautious approach of scratching her Auckland nomination she will be fully fit for the Australian Open. 

But in what feels like a potentially pivotal season for the 2021 US Open champion, this is far from an ideal beginning.