Rejuvenated Raducanu eager for Wimbledon return after rekindling love for tennis

The 21-year-old will continue preparations for the All England Club by taking on fellow former US Open champion Sloane Stephens on Tuesday in the first round of the Rothesay International in Eastbourne.

Raducanu has struggled with form and injuries since triumphing at Flushing Meadows as a qualifier in 2021 and missed last year’s grass-court season following surgery on both wrists and one ankle.

She admits her passion for competing is the highest it has been “for a long, long time” as she works her way back towards the top 100.

“I’m just really into it at the moment. I just love the sport, I love tennis,” said Raducanu.

“It’s taken over me and I’ve really rekindled a light in the fire inside of me.

“I’m really grateful to have this feeling again because it’s something that I feel I’ve been missing in a way for the last few years and I haven’t felt this good about my tennis — just excited about it and passionate — for a long, long time.

“Now it’s really comforting for me because I’m way less focused on the result because I know with the way I’m training, the way I’m competing and fighting on the court, good things are 100 per cent going to happen.

“I have full faith and belief in that now and I can say it and mean it at the same time, rather than just saying it.”

Raducanu recently reached the semi-finals of the Rothesay Open in Nottingham, where she was beaten by British number one Katie Boulter.

After opting to skip the French Open, she has been handed a wild card for Wimbledon and feels performing on home soil provides additional motivation for all British players.

“I have a big joy for playing in the UK, I missed it last year, obviously, and it’s nice — you kind of forget the feeling,” said Raducanu.

“I think you would push your body further to play over this period of time.

“I think all of us (British players) really live for it, we come alive, we put our clay shoes in the bin pretty early and then get on the grass.

“We do push ourselves more for this and understand the implications that may or may not come with it.”