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Emma Raducanu made her pro debut on clay courts at the Billie Jean King Cup in Friday’s qualifying matches, and her win over the Czech Republic’s Tereza Martincova came with some unfortunate consequences.
When asked about her recent hip injury before the match, the 19-year-old sensation revealed that while she’s recovering just fine, she’s developed a new issue because of her intense training.
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“It’s OK, but I’ve no toenails now,” she said via The Sun. “It’s my foot and my shoes, they’ve been sliding around a lot. I had a small niggle in Miami, but now I have no physical thing.”
Emma Raducanu serves against Tereza Martincova during a Billie Jean King Cup playoff match between the Czech Republic and Great Britain at the Tennis Club 1. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Toenails or not, Raducanu found her footing in her 7-5, 7-5 win over Martincova to keep Great Britain in contention.
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“This win means so much to me,” Raducanu said, via the tournament’s website. “It is my first Billie Jean King Cup match and to come out and represent my team like I did in my first professional match on clay is really amazing.”
Emma Raducanu plays a forehand shot against Tereza Martincova during a Billie Jean King Cup playoff match between the Czech Republic and Great Britain at the Tennis Club 1. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Raducanu has been training on the clay courts since last competing on them four years ago in the French Open junior qualifiers, where she lost in the second round, according to the New York Post.
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Emma Raducanu of Great Britain serves against Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic during a Billie Jean King Cup playoff match between the Czech Republic and Great Britain at the Tennis Club 1. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Despite her lack of experience, Raducanu believes clay could be one of her preferred surfaces.
“I feel this could be one of my strongest surfaces going forward. But, of course, it’s early days right now,” she said, via the Post.
Source: www.foxnews.com