When Emma Raducanu sensationally won the 2021 US Open as a rookie teenager, it felt like a symbolic moment of torch-passing in British tennis.
Andy Murray has shouldered the nation's hopes for much of the 21st century but Raducanu's startling emergence promised a new dawn.
However, the road since has been a tough one for Raducanu, who has had to adapt to full-time life on tour while grappling with a succession of injury problems and chopping and changing her coaching setup.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a run to the last 16 at Indian Wells in March this year, defeating top-20 opposition in the form of Magda Linette and Beatriz Haddad Maia. However, she has only played twice since a last-16 defeat to world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
Raducanu was absent from the French Open. Here, we take a look at her current predicament as a home grand slam looms at Wimbledon.
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Is Emma Raducanu playing at Wimbledon in 2023?
In an announcement on May 3, Raducanu said it "pained" her to be missing the summer events including Roland-Garros and Wimbledon
In an Instagram post she told fans she had undergone operations on bones in both hands as well as further surgery to remedy an ankle problem.
Describing the work as a "minor procedure", Raducanu called the previous 10 months "difficult".
"I tried my best to manage the pain and play through it for most of this year and end of last year by reducing practice load dramatically, missing weeks of training as well as cutting last season short to try heal it," she added, posting a photo from her hospital bed.
"Unfortunately, it's not enough. I tried to downplay the issues, so I thank all my fans who continued to support me when you did not know the facts. Looking forward to seeing you all back out there."
What is Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon record?
Raducanu's breakthrough appearance came at Wimbledon 2021, serving notice of her sensational run in New York later that year.
On her grand slam debut, Raducanu become the youngest British women to reach the last 16 in the Open Era. She toppled Vitalia Diatchenko, Marketa Vondrousova and Sorana Cirstea before being forced to withdraw in the second set of her last-16 meeting with Ajla Tomljanovic due to illness.
The reigning US Open champion was one of the star attractions 12 months later and headed to SW19 as the 10th seed. However, after beating Alison van Uytvanck in round one she lost to the experienced Caroline Garcia on Centre Court.
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Emma Raducanu injury: Latest news on British tennis star
Although she has the consolation of being one of the most in-demand tennis players in the world among sponsors, Raducanu had fallen out of the top 100 by May 2023 – a steep fall from her ranking high of 10th just 10 months earlier.
In an interview with The Sunday Times earlier this month, Raducanu conceded she had been "very high and very low" since her unexpected Flushing Meadows success.
"Sometimes I think to myself I wish I’d never won the US Open, I wish that didn’t happen," she said.
"That moment on the court, when I was celebrating, I was like, I would literally trade any struggle in the world for this moment. Anything can come my way, I will take it for what I have right now because this is the best thing in the world. I promised myself that, on the court that day.
"Since then I’ve had a lot of setbacks, one after the other. I am resilient, my tolerance is high, but it’s not easy. Then I am like, remember that feeling, remember that promise, because it was completely pure."
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Raducanu expected return date: Will she play at the US Open 2023?
Raducanu said she expected to be out for "the next few months", which could mean she will seek a return in time for the start of the US Open on August 28.
Tennis great Chris Evert spoke about the "hurricane of stuff" that Raducanu has experienced after enjoying stratospheric success so early in her career.
"When I saw that picture of her in hospital with her wrist, I thought 'well, you need time off,'" said Evert, speaking to Eurosport, via Tennis365.
"Maybe this is that time off to take a deep breath, to rethink your career, think about who you want to coach you, think about what areas of your game you want to work on. Just be a little more clear about your path."
Raducanu has repeatedly changed coach during her short senior career. "Do I think she can get to number one in the world? Probably not," said Evert.
"Do I think she could be top 10 in the world? Yes. Let’s give her time. She won a grand slam title. I’m not worried about Emma."
Emma Raducanu injury history: What has kept her out in the past?
The unfortunate Raducanu has suffered an injury during almost every month of the season since the end of 2021, pulling out of tournaments and matches while her game has inevitably suffered.
Here is a list of the problems she has faced prior to undergoing wrist surgery.
| Date | Tournament | Injury |
| December 2021 | Abu Dhabi Open, Melbourne Summer Set | Covid |
| January 2022 | Australian Open | Hand blisters |
| February 2022 | Guadalajara Open | Hip |
| March 2022 | Indian Wells | Back |
| April 2022 | Billie Jean King Cup | Foot blisters |
| May 2022 | Italian Open | Back |
| June 2022 | Nottingham Open | Abdominal |
| September 2022 | Korea Open | Glute |
| October 2022 | Transylvania Open | Wrist |
| January 2023 | Auckland Open | Ankle |
| February 2023 | ATX Open | Tonsillitis |
| March 2023 | Eisenhower Cup | Fitness |
| March 2023 | Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers | Wrist |
| April 2023 | Madrid Open | Wrist |
