Emma Raducanu, Jack Draper and Sonay Kartal – why are so many British tennis players injured?
Of the six British singles players who started the year in the top 100, Cameron Norrie was the only one to avoid injury or illness, and he has impressively returned to the world top 20 in recent weeks.
Raducanu, 23, was due to return to the Italian Open in Rome this week but withdrew due to viral symptoms after committing to the media on Tuesday. The Eagles are currently on track to play on grass courts again, but a back injury the 24-year-old suffered during the run to the fourth round of Indian Wells in March cost him his entire clay-court debut.
Francesca Jones was sidelined for a month after suffering a femur injury at the Australian Open, and Draper’s return from a serious arm injury was tempered by a knee problem; Fearnley, on the other hand, completed qualifying in Rome after a seven-week break.
England number three Katie Boulter, who was knocked out of the top 100 last year due to foot and hip injuries, says it can be difficult for players to leave even if they have knowledge that their bodies are at breaking point.
Fitness trackers, which provide rich data to performance analysts, will be allowed on a trial basis at this year’s three remaining Grand Slams, as they have been on the men’s and women’s tours for some time.
But Boulter, who is back in the top 60, told BBC Sport: “I think it’s impossible as a tennis player to say, ‘I’m going to take this week off because I have a wearable.’ [device] ‘He says I’m red’.
“Financially, there may be people who don’t have the luxury of taking a week out of their schedule and not playing; most of us are still trying to make ends meet.
“I’ve been through a lot of injuries, I’ve stopped a lot of injuries. In the end, you have to make the best decision you can.
“It’s nice to have that knowledge, but sometimes it’s not necessarily marriage.”
LTA has revamped its entire physiotherapy team over the last 18 months and believes it now has the right expertise to support the modern player. The next task is to consider how best to improve rescue facilities.
British players have many more resources at their disposal than any other nationality. An LTA physiotherapist was sent to Miami in March after the Eagles began to realize the extent of his back problem, but there is also an emphasis on players creating their own support networks.
