EMMA'S ON A MISSION AFTER BAD BREAKS

Lay-offs give Raducanu a new hunger to seize day

- Neil Mcleman

EMMA RADUCANU says her injury lay-offs have increased her hunger for tennis as she prepares to face fellow former teenage prodigy Amanda Anisimova.

The British No.2 showed her mental resilience and will-to-win while beating No.26 seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova, 7-6 7-6 despite serving 15 double faults.

She now meets American Anisimova, right, who took an eight-month break from tennis in 2023 to protect her mental health.

The challenges of top-class sport were also illustrated when Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava revealed she had decided to take her own life on Easter Sunday 2022 before she was talked down from a Melbourne bridge.

Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, who suffered a back spasm before Christmas, was forced out of action at the same time as her friend Anisimova in 2023 for wrist and ankle surgeries.