SHOCKING: Emma Raducanu rejects Paris Olympics Wildcard entry reserved for previous Grand Slam winners

Emma Raducanu believes there are more opportunities as she rejects the wildcard.

SHOCKING: Emma Raducanu rejects Paris Olympics Wildcard entry reserved for previous Grand Slam winners

Emma Raducanu (Via Imago)

Emma Raducanu has rejected a major offer to play for her country at the Paris Olympics. The 21-year-old continues to recover from surgery on her wrist and ankles last year, while also featuring in different tournaments in search of that breakthrough run. 

After a rather challenging hard-court season, Raducanu played only a couple of tournaments on clay before opting out of the Grand Slam to get in more practice for the grass season. Currently, she has been training hard on grass, playing at the Nottingham Open. 

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However, she is ranked too low to qualify for the Olympic team but was offered one of the two places in Britain’s Olympic team by the International Tennis Federation that are reserved for Grand Slam winners. However, she turned down the chance to play for her country. Although the reason is not known yet, the head of Great Britain’s Olympic team believes that the timing is wrong. 

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I think she feels this isn’t going to be the right timing for her for this summer.
said Iain Bates, head of the Olympics team

Katie Boulter is the only British woman to have qualified by her ranking and will be playing alongside Heather Watson in doubles as will Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden. Although they will miss Raducanu, the team is complete and will give it their all for the games. 

Emma Raducanu’s Nottingham Open run came to an end in the semi-finals

The Nottingham Open has been a huge hit so far, as their returning star Emma Raducanu to cruised ahead in the tournament. She started the tournament on a high note and soon found herself in the semi-finals. 

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu (Via Imago)

Raducanu was up against her compatriot Katie Boulter in the semis and both the players gave it their all in the first set of the match. The former US Open singles winner started 3-1 down when she returned to tie the game. Both the players threw their set-points away multiple times, forcing a tie-break.

After winning 13-13 points each in the tie-break, Raducanu won the next two points to clinch the first set after 79 minutes of play. However, just as they closed out the first set, the play was suspended due to bad lights and Raducanu ended the end on a major lead.

The exciting match continued later, but Boulter came out stronger after the break. Winning the next two sets, 6-3, 6-4, Boulter advanced to the final.

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