Emma Raducanu has put an end to her injury nightmare, making a winning return on her long-awaited comeback to competitive tennis after 259 days out.
The British star, who won the US Open in 2021, has been dogged by injury and worked tirelessly to come back, relaunching her career against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Auckland.
The 21-year-old looked full of confidence as she smiled and waved to the crowd when announced before the match and took her opponent down 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Raducanu's inactivity over the last few months means she's plummeted down the rankings lowly 298th in the world.
But the talent that made her a star on the big stage was immediately there to see for those watching the Auckland Classic clash.
Emma Raducanu made her long-awaited comeback from injury at the Auckland Classic
The British superstar has fallen down the rankings after being out of action for 259 days
Raducanu took the first set with ease against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania
The British star used a scooter after an operation on her ankle, and procedures on her wrists
Emma Raducanu steps on court to play her first tennis match in 259 days.
The only qualifier to ever win a Grand Slam in the Open Era.
She’s back for more. ????????❤️ pic.twitter.com/b1AeQkg2oC
Raducanu started well in an even contest and then pulled away in the first set, claiming it 6-3. More importantly, there were no signs of ill-effects from three surgeries undertaken.
She went under the knife to fix two wrist issues and a problem with her left ankle after ending her season last year.
In the second set, Raducanu went 3-0 early on following a break of her serve and she went on to lose it 6-4. But she fought back to win the match 7-5 in the third and progress to the next round.
Having been given a wildcard to the same event that she exited in tears after rolling the ankle last year, Raducanu was full of excitement ahead of the event.
She said: 'I feel reborn in a way. I feel fresh, ready, happy, excited. Overall I’m feeling positive and lighter.
‘I actually think I’m a better tennis player than I was before the break. In practice over the last few weeks I’m hitting the ball really well.
‘Physically I’m pushing things that I wasn’t doing before. In my body I actually have confidence, which is really nice and tennis-wise I feel good, too.’
The 21-year-old is relaunching her career and looked in solid touch to begin with
She added: ‘It was so hard, especially the first few months.
'When you’re so used to being active and moving around all the time, then to all of a sudden have everything just cut off from you.
‘I had two wrists and one foot injured, so I couldn’t even use crutches. It was difficult being that immobile. But it reignited the fire to get back out there competing.’
