Emma Raducanu finally makes tennis  comeback after 259 days out

Emma Raducanu has put an end to her injury nightmare, making a winning return on her long-awaited comeback to competitive tennis after 259 days out. 

The British star, who won the US Open in 2021, has been dogged by injury and worked tirelessly to come back, relaunching her career against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Auckland. 

The 21-year-old looked full of confidence as she smiled and waved to the crowd when announced before the match and took her opponent down 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. 

Raducanu's inactivity over the last few months means she's plummeted down the rankings lowly 298th in the world. 

But the talent that made her a star on the big stage was immediately there to see for those watching the Auckland Classic clash. 

Raducanu started well in an even contest and then pulled away in the first set, claiming it 6-3. More importantly, there were no signs of ill-effects from three surgeries undertaken. 

Emma Raducanu's  sponsorship deals 

Emma Raducanu has sealed a series of brand partnerships since her US Open win in September 2021:

• Dior - She has represented Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri's womenswear collections as well as the luxury brand's skincare and make-up ranges
• Tiffany&Co. - Brand ambassador in deal said to be worth £2million
• Sports Direct - Face of £6million Christmas campaign in 2021. She was joined by footballer Jack Grealish and an array of Britain's top young sporting stars in the advert.
• Evian - The teenager became an ambassador for the water brand, joining the likes of Dua Lipa, Maria Sharapova and Ella Chen
• British Airways - The teen was unveiled as BA's global brand ambassador in December 2021
• Porsche - Emma became one of the new faces of the car manufacturer as the brand released snaps of the tennis star posing in front of the £150,000 Porsche 911.

She went under the knife to fix two wrist issues and a problem with her left ankle after ending her season last year. 

Her preparations for the upcoming Australian Open will continue with a tough last-16 tie against second seed Elina Svitolina.

'It's difficult after having such a long hiatus but I'm grateful to be healthy, I'm grateful to be able to move my body and not bedridden or in a wheelchair,' Raducanu said on court after victory in two hours and 27 minutes.

'It's pretty amazing to just be out here and playing and I'm just really happy to be back on the tour and can't wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy.'

Tournament wild card Raducanu, resumed her stalled career claiming to feel 'reborn' and freed from the weight of her headline-grabbing US Open triumph in 2021.

Having managed only nine matches in 2023, she initially showed few signs of rustiness as she wrapped up the opening set in 37 minutes after capitalising on her third break point in game eight.

Yet any hopes of straightforward progression were quickly dashed as Ruse responded.

The world number 134 doggedly saved three break points in an 11-minute opening game of the second set before winning two of Raducanu's next three service games to shift the momentum.

At 5-2 down, Raducanu demonstrated resilience to return the match to serve but then failed to hold as it went to a decider.

The 21-year-old showed flashes of her best throughout the contest, including a delightful backhand slice winner, and would not be denied, despite the best efforts of the determined Ruse.

She blew a 5-2 lead in the final set and failed to capitalise on two match points on her opponent's serve before digging in to ensure eight months on the sidelines culminated in an encouraging comeback victory.

'Thank you to everyone for coming out and staying late and cold, I really appreciate the support throughout,' added Raducanu.

'It was a match with ups and downs and always difficult playing a friend in Gabi.

'I love being back in Auckland, I'm having a blast so far, so thank you and see you in the next round.'

Having been given a wildcard to the same event that she exited in tears after rolling the ankle last year, Raducanu was full of excitement ahead of the event. 

She had said: 'I feel reborn in a way. I feel fresh, ready, happy, excited. Overall I'm feeling positive and lighter.

'I actually think I'm a better tennis player than I was before the break. In practice over the last few weeks I'm hitting the ball really well.

'Physically I'm pushing things that I wasn't doing before. In my body I actually have confidence, which is really nice and tennis-wise I feel good, too.'

She added: 'It was so hard, especially the first few months.

'When you're so used to being active and moving around all the time, then to all of a sudden have everything just cut off from you.

'I had two wrists and one foot injured, so I couldn't even use crutches. It was difficult being that immobile. But it reignited the fire to get back out there competing.'