Emma Raducanu is set to make her long-awaited comeback at this week’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals where Great Britain take on Germany in the knockout stage.
The world No. 58 has been sidelined for two months after injuring her foot during the Asian swing. But she has travelled to Magala with the British BJK Cup squad in hopes of representing the team this Friday.
Ahead of their knockout tie, fellow British star Jodie Burrage gave Express Sport an insight into Raducanu’s training sessions after speaking with the team.
Raducanu, Katie Boulter and co will bid to become champions at the World Cup of women’s tennis in Malaga over the coming week. Both women played a crucial role in getting GB to this stage after winning their qualifier tie against France in April.
But there have been question marks surrounding Raducanu’s form as she has not played a match since retiring injured during her Korea Open quarter-final in September. It later emerged that she sprained ligaments in her foot.
She pulled out of several tournaments and was set to return at the Hong Kong Open at the end of October but withdrew and postponed her comeback. As she bids to return at the BJK Cup, another British player has analysed Raducanu and the team’s chances in Malaga.
“I’ve spoken to both of them [Raducanu and Boulter] this week, I think they’re both feeling really good,” Burrage exclusively told Express Sport.
“Boults had a really good run in Asia, she’s obviously feeling so confident right now which is great, it’s good to see. And Emma I think she’s been training the last few weeks and I think and heard that’s gone pretty well.”
Raducanu’s training sessions in London haven’t just gone well, as Burrage also heard positive things about the US Open champion’s practices at the BJK Cup and believes she can help the team go far.
She added: “I spoke to a few of the other girls yesterday and they said she was playing really good so I think that team is really, really strong.
“Not just Katie and Emma and everyone else as well, and I think they’ve got a great opportunity this week to go far in the Finals, not just win a match or two but go far.”
Burrage has a good relationship with the players on the squad and is hoping she can receive her own BJK Cup call-up in the future. “It’s really good to see and that’s where I definitely want to be getting back to,” the former world No. 84 said.
“I want to be putting myself in positions to be in that team and it is motivating, especially with the weeks where it’s on, that’s where you want to be and it just helps give that extra push in your day-to-day stuff.”
The five-time ITF title winner had her 2024 season derailed by two injuries. Burrage underwent left wrist surgery in March. Ahead of her planned comeback during the clay swing, she injured her right ankle and went under the knife again.
Burrage is a Del Monte ambassador and her relationship with the brand proved crucial when she was sidelined for six months. “Nutrition is very, very important in terms of rest, recovery, rehab and trying to stay fit when you can’t do too much,” she explained.
“That’s where De Monte fruit and their resources were really good for me, being a partner with them, because they helped that side of it because I know from previous injuries that it’s not always easy to be the healthiest or to get access to those foods. So that was really good whilst I was injured.”
