TENNIS

Emma Raducanu Overcomes Setbacks Ahead of Australian Open: 'Ready to Go' After Ant Bite and Back Spasm

January, 11, 2025-12:28

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Emma Raducanu Overcomes Setbacks Ahead of Australian Open: 'Ready to Go' After Ant Bite and Back Spasm

Emma Raducanu is feeling confident and ready to compete at the Australian Open, despite facing a few unexpected challenges in the lead-up to her first-round match. The 22-year-old British tennis star shared her recent experience with an allergic reaction after being bitten by Australia's notorious jumping ants.

"I got bitten really badly by these jumping ants," Raducanu revealed, detailing how her hand and foot swelled up and forced her to seek medical help. "I had to come on site to see the doctor and get some remedies. But I'm fine now."

In addition to battling the insect bites, Raducanu also experienced a back spasm just before the Auckland Open, which kept her out of the tournament. However, she clarified that the issue was minor and occurred while tying her tennis shoes. "It was a little back niggle," she said, explaining that it wasn't a serious injury.

Despite receiving an antiseptic spray to alleviate the ant bite symptoms, Raducanu chose not to use it. With the recent doping tests involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek in mind, she opted to "tough it out" rather than risk using any products she wasn't fully comfortable with.

Raducanu, currently ranked No. 60 in the world, has also been working closely with her new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, to reduce injury risk and improve her on-court performance. The 52-year-old trainer from Japan has been focusing on "microdosing" fitness and managing Raducanu's training loads to ensure she stays healthy and prepared.

"I already feel a difference when I step on the court," Raducanu said. "I'm quite reactive and explosive... I feel ready to go when I'm on the court." She praised Nakamura’s work, adding, "Building a body is a continuous process, but I trust his judgment."

Raducanu is set to face No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her opening match of the Australian Open, and with her confidence and new training regimen in place, she's optimistic about the tournament ahead.