By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, December 7, 2023
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and former Roland Garros semifinalist Amanda Anisimova will each make their comebacks in Auckland next month.
Photo credit: IMG
Comeback season is coming soon—and two young stars are joining revival revelry.
Emma Raducanu and Amanda Anisimova will each launch long-anticipated comebacks in Auckland at the ASB Classic, January 1-7th.
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The 2021 US Open champion Raducanu, who underwent ankle surgery and surgeries to both wrists last May, eyes a competitive comeback in 2024.
Raducanu, who celebrated her 21st birthday on November 13th, wrapped an injury-plagued 2023 season posting a 5-5 record. Raducanu shared video of recent practice sessions during her trip to Hong Kong.
Anisimova, like Raducanu, pulled the plug on her 2023 season last May, but for a different health reason.
The 22-year-old Anisimova, who reached the semifinals at Roland Garros as a 17-year-old in 2019, said tennis had become “unbearable” for her after experiencing burn-out.
“I thought I’d make a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans,” Anisimova wrote on Instagram in a candid May 5th post. “I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments.
"At this point my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support.”
During her time away from tennis, Anisimova took art classes and has become an artist sharing some of her striking work on social media.
World No. 367 Anisimova concluded 2023 with a 3-8 record. Auckland will be her first tournament since she lost to Arantxa Rus at the Mutua Madrid Open last May.
Raducanu and Anisimova join former world No. 1 Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber in launching 2024 comebacks.
Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who began her comeback last August, has received a wild card into the 2024 Australian Open and will make her AO return six years after she defeated Simona Halep to capture the Australian Open.