Emma Raducanu feels unhurt after exhibition match with Ons Jabeur in Abu Dhabi ahead of Australian Open

The 20-year-old Briton will start her 2023 campaign at the ASB Classic in Auckland before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open, where she remains fit.

Radukanu faces 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Anse Gabriel in Abu Dhabi on Friday. She lost the exhibition match but was happy to prove her fitness ahead of the new season.

She said: “Physically, physically, injury-wise, I’m fine now, I know it. Touch wood it’s going to stay that way. I’ve really been working out the last two months, less time on the tennis court. So I’m just trying to find my feel on the court.”

Despite the results against Jabeur, Raducanu sees a silver lining.She described her performance like this: “But today [against Jabeur] Seeing where I am at and where I can do better is a very positive step. But physically, I feel fine. ”

Having struggled with fitness recently – she has lost the final two months of 2022 to a wrist injury – the Brit admits her body has been playing a role on her mind in recent seasons.

So part of her fitness battle is restoring her mental health and confidence in herself. She hinted that her health was a distraction.

She said: “I want to be able to get out there and just focus on tennis. I think I’m in a better position this year, but it will still take some time to fully develop.

“One of my biggest goals – probably not going to happen this year, but go out there without thinking about my fitness, without thinking ‘oh, start the clock, I have 60 minutes to finish this game’.

“I want to be able to get out there and just focus on tennis. I think I’m in a better position this year, but it will still take some time to fully develop.”

Raducanu explained that her enthusiasm for on-field training may be at the root of her injury problems.

She said: “I really, obviously want to work hard and get back on the court as much as I can, but if I don’t really think it through, I might overdo it because I want to be back on the court so badly. .Sometimes I may just need to work a little less.”

With the arrival of her new coach, Radukanu’s return to fitness couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Briton has changed coaches four times since winning the US Open in 2021. The appointment of the 30-year-old Sachs is preliminary.

Raducanu explained: “We’ve been doing trials until the end of the year to see how it’s going in practice. Everything’s going well. I’ve been training with him for a week so far and I think he’s a very calm influencer. He Working on it, turning it around Yeah, I’m happy to see how it’s going.”

The Briton admits her short-term aspirations are simple. “I think my goal for 2023 is probably to win a championship,” she said.

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