Raducanu slowly resumed her training routines at the start of September, yet spending four months practicing without competing represents a lengthy period.
Although she might refrain from participating in exhibition matches before the year concludes, a stint of training in warmer climates is expected, with the Middle East serving as a favored location for athletes preparing for the Australian Open.
Onlookers report that her recent workout sessions in London alongside head coach Andrew Richardson and LTA national coach Alex Ward have steadily ramped up in workload.
However, by the time Raducanu makes her comeback, her absence from competition will have exceeded half a year. Entering a couple of Asian events could have assisted in restoring her match fitness and potentially enabled a quicker launch into 2027.
Her compatriot Sonay Kartal provides a great illustration of this, having achieved significant success after coming back in September from a six-month lay-off caused by a stress fracture in her back.
In her initial WTA Tour appearance following her recovery, she advanced to the third round at the China Open before defeating world number six Elina Svitolina and world number 12 Belinda Bencic en route to the final of the Wuhan Open.
Kartal mentioned that numerous discussions took place regarding the optimal venue for her competitive return.
“I feel I wanted to dive right back in. I had faith in my ability to recover my form, though I was unsure how rapidly that would happen,” stated the 25-year-old.
“Even so, I believe there remains a considerable journey ahead. I am capable of reaching that standard, but the question is whether I can maintain it?
“Rehabilitation is physically exhausting, and the body isn’t accustomed to playing numerous tour matches back-to-back, so I certainly experience the resulting soreness and discomfort.”
Though Raducanu will celebrate only her 24th birthday later this week, the extensive downtime she has accumulated since her remarkable victory in New York as a teenage qualifier cannot be ignored.
Throughout the five years following that championship win, she has competed in an average of merely 31 matches per season. Competitors aiming for a place in the world’s top 20 typically target roughly double that figure.
Take Elena Rybakina as an illustration: she took part in 68 matches across 20 events this year, ascending to the summit of the world rankings for her first time.
In comparison, Raducanu featured in a mere 21 matches, suffering a second-round exit at the Australian Open and dropping her opening match at Roland Garros.
During the previous year, Raducanu logged a career-high 50 fixtures and subsequently reached 23rd in the global rankings earlier this season, soon after making the final in Cluj, Romania.
However, her initial preparation suffered due to a bone bruise in her foot, and a post-viral ailment contracted in Cluj kept her sidelined for a two-month stretch between March and May.
Raducanu noted that a stress fracture in her shin was confirmed only following an ultimate scan on the eve of Wimbledon. Yet, driven by her strong urge to compete, she periodically persisted with training during the build-up to the tournament, despite medical recommendations advising against it.
