Boris Becker sounds warning over Emma Raducanu injuries: 'Tough to take for a young woman'

Boris Becker has expressed his concerns regarding the number of surgeries Emma Raducanu has had to have on her body this season.

Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, is currently sidelined from the Tour after opting to undergo three 'minor' surgeries on both of her hands, as well as her ankle, to solve a recurring injury.

The Brit has been hindered by various setbacks ever since winning her maiden Grand Slam title in New York. The complaints and injuries range from annoying to serious, and include blisters, leg cramps, back problems, rib pain, wrist pain, glute pain and a rolled ankle.

Whilst Raducanu's team have played down the significance of her surgeries, seven-time Grand Slam champion Becker has told The Guardian that he has his reservations, warning that there is no guarantee that a player who has gone through such procedures at her age could return to the Tour in the same form.

"The surgeries that she has had are, in my opinion, career-threatening," Becker said.

"Having surgery on your playing wrist, and as a two-handed player, the other wrist – and then on your ankle – is tough to bear for a young woman."

It certainly has been tough going for the 20-year-old since bursting onto the main stage of tennis. Raducanu is yet to play in another final since winning the US Open. Out of her last five tournaments played, she only won back-to-back matches on one occasion.

"Tennis is a completely different game when you go into court and you have nothing to lose," said Becker. "Anybody can play then. It's a whole different sport when you become the hunted."

Raducanu's rollercoaster journey on the Tour has also coincided with numerous changes in her team. The revolving door of coaches includes Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dimitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs.

"I'm not in her inner circle so I don't know all the things that went off, although I've seen the coaching changes. But as a young woman, all of a sudden being on top of the mountain, you have to really dig in and find the resources and the team around you to guide you through the next 10 years," he said.

"It's about mindset and talent, team, approach and circumstances. She's not the first one who wasn't able to do it. And she won't be the last. But if she was good enough to win a grand slam [title] once, she's good enough to win one again."

Raducanu has already confirmed she will not be playing in either the French Open or Wimbledon but she hopes to make her return in time for the US Open at the end of August.