Emma Raducanu declined a wildcard invitation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris to avoid placing undue strain on her body. She cited the timing of the event, which is held on clay courts between Wimbledon’s grass courts and the hard courts of the US Open, as a key factor in her decision.
The 21-year-old Raducanu is currently ranked too low to qualify for the Olympics, but was offered an invitation by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which reserves two spots for former Grand Slam champions. Surprisingly, the world No.209 Briton turned down the offer, expressing that she deemed it unnecessary to subject her body to surface changes.
As she continues to come back from surgeries on her wrists and ankle undergone last year, Raducanu skipped the recent Roland Garros, to ensure she is fit for the British grass-court swing. At this week’s Nottingham Open, she lost an all-British semifinal to Katie Boulter. Raducanu emphasized that her decision not to play on clay at the Olympics was about prioritizing her health and not about being a diva.
“I’m very single minded and I do things my own way and in my own time whenever I want,” said the 2021 US Open champion Raducanu about her controversial yet brave decision.
“So not in a diva way, [I’m] just prioritizing my body and my health because I know if I’m fit, I know if I’m giving my 100%, I know great things are happening and coming.
“I just don’t think there’s any need to put additional stress on my body or any risk, especially with my history.”
The Olympic tennis tournament is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 4 at Roland Garros.
