The comeback trail is a route Emma Raducanu has come to know well, and the British No. 1 is taking a prudent approach to her latest return from injury.
After suffering a recurrence of a right wrist injury, the 20-year-old is suddenly a doubt to feature in Thursday's Indian Wells opener against Danka Kovinic. Having not played since her second-round exit to Coco Gauff at the Australian Open in January, Raducanu is once again under pressure to be fit in time for a big occasion.
"The same issue that I had last year has started to flare back up," she told BBC Sport. "I've definitely been managing my load. It's something that has just come back, so I'm trying to be as cautious as possible.
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"I'm going to do everything I can to be there. I think we always play through pain and it's just a matter of how much can you take. I'm looking forward to hopefully being out there tomorrow."
The 2021 U.S. Open champion has been repeatedly set back by fitness issues since the start of 2022, ranging from ankle and abdominal injuries to illness and blister concerns. She was prevented from featuring at last month's ATX Open in Austin, Texas, after falling sick with tonsillitis, limiting her preparations for Indian Wells.
Raducanu more recently backed out of the Eisenhower Cup exhibition event, where she was set to team up with Cameron Norrie in the doubles section. Her showdown with Montenegrin Kovinic is now also in doubt due to her wrist problem, the same injury that brought an early end to her 2022 campaign.
"It affected me bad for the short term so I haven't prepared much. I've probably never felt so sick in my life," the youngster explained when asked about her recent illness. "When it rains, it pours.
"This and the infection - it's obviously a challenge. My preparation hasn't been ideal. I played on the weekend and then I rested it - it's how you manage things when you aren't prepared."
A 'cautious' approach might be best considering Raducanu has bigger goals to come in 2023, and forcing the matter in California could lead to a more substantial setback. That being said, she'll be eager to get revenge over 28-year-old Kovinic, who was responsible for knocking her out of the 2022 Australian Open's second round.
Emma Raducanu is scheduled to face Danka Kovinic in the first round of Indian Wells at 8.30 p.m. UK time on Thursday.
