The 2018 Australian Open champion retired four years ago and, in that time, she had two children. But she decided to leave retirement and return to professional tennis last summer, storming into the second week at the US Open.
Another former No. 1, her impressive resume will be another thing the ITF will consider when awarding their special places into the Olympics. It means that Raducanu will be left sweating as she waits to learn whether she could get a wildcard, or whether she will be snubbed for Kerber or Wozniacki.
However, it seems the 2021 US Open winner has already made peace with the idea that it is unlikely she will be in Paris. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 last October, she said: “Obviously the Olympics is such a big thing in sport. I think I could play another four if I wanted to. So this one isn’t any immediate rush or pressure. I think for me it’s just getting back on court. I love the Slams but of course I would want to have the Olympic experience. I’ll just see how it goes, if I even qualify or how it happens from there.”
