Emma Raducanu return confirmed as Brit raring to go after ranking drop | Tennis | Sport

She then pulled out of the Miami Open last month with a lower back injury. “I have been experiencing lower back pain and at this stage of my return to competition I don’t want to risk anything happening,” Raducanu said.

“I really tried my best to be ready and I’m sad to be pulling out of Miami as it’s a cool tournament but wish the event all the best.”

But Raducanu, 21, has been back training on clay at the National Tennis Centre before the tie near Boulogne from April 12-13.

And the former world No.10 then has a chance to quickly move up the rankings, starting at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart – the last event she played last year before undergoing surgeries on her wrists and ankle.

GB captain Anne Keothavong must decide whether to play Raducanu with British No.1 Katie Boulter, world No.88 Harriet Dart and world No.144 Heather Watson also in the squad.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is worried meanwhile that Raducanu’s 2021 US Open success has become a burden on the young Briton.

“It was amazing when she won but it’s become a handicap because the expectations have gone sky-high,” Navratilova told Sky Sports Tennis.

“It wasn’t a fluke because Emma has got that level. It wasn’t just she played great tennis and then all of a sudden she can’t play, but the pressure that’s been on her since then – particularly being a Brit – you can’t get away from it.

“It’s a big burden to carry, but hopefully she’ll get back to it and most of all she needs to get healthy and stay healthy – and, that way, you can build on that.

“It’s hard to build any confidence and momentum from winning because you don’t stay healthy enough to win. It’s a nasty Catch 22 where you can win with confidence but you can’t have confidence without winning.

“Hopefully she’ll get healthy and stay healthy so we’ll see her talent again.”