EMMA RADUCANU revealed there were members of her team who wanted her to pull out of the Australian Open due to painful blisters.
The rising British star was knocked out of the tournament 6-4 4-6 6-3 after two-and-a-half-hours by world No98 Danka Kovinic.
But while Raducanu led by one game, she was forced into a medical timeout after suffering from blisters.
The 19-year-old later opened up on the injury and admitted she faced calls to withdraw from the open completely.
Raducanu said: “Before the match there were people in my team who didn’t want me to play.”
It was the first time Raducanu had been defeated over two sets at Slam level.
Her 2021 Wimbledon exit was due to an early retirement following breathing problems experienced on court.
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The US Open champion will now pack her bags, regroup and focus on the Road to Wimbledon.
Raducanu reckons her lack of action on the court caused the agonising blistering.
She said: “I have been struggling with blisters since I started playing really in Australia because 21 days, no tennis, my hands got pretty soft.
“From day one, day two, I was getting blisters pop up here and there.
“This particular one has been with me for about five days and I have been trying to tape it for every practice, and it would harden and dry out, but then once I would play again, another layer would just keep ripping off.
“It ended up being pretty deep. It’s a bit annoying because I know it’s something that will heal in a few days, but it’s just unfortunate timing.”
