As Emma Raducanu sat down in Madrid last month, the British No 1 was determined to give away as little as possible. The former US Open champion was asked 16 questions, ranging from her fitness ahead of the clay court tournament to her friendship with fellow British player Jodie Burrage, and Raducanu replied with a total of 58 words. After a series of short, sharp returns down the line, the press conference was cut short. A few hours later, Raducanu withdrew from Madrid due to a right hand injury.
On Wednesday, Raducanu posted an update from a hospital bed, her right hand wrapped in a cast. The news that the 20-year-old will miss the “next few months”, including Wimbledon, as she undergoes surgeries on both hands and her ankle belatedly provided some answers. Raducanu had been dealing with a recurring injury on a bone on the top of both hands, and had been playing through pain for the past 10 months. In Madrid, her frustration could no longer be downplayed.
