Emma Raducanu recently faced an unusual challenge leading up to the Australian Open when she was bitten by jumping ants in Melbourne. The bites caused significant swelling in her hand and foot, raising concerns about her readiness to compete. Despite the discomfort, Raducanu avoided using antiseptic spray to treat the bites due to concerns over potential anti-doping violations. This caution highlights the heightened awareness within professional tennis about substances that could inadvertently breach anti-doping regulations.
Raducanu explained her decision, stating, “Someone was giving me this antiseptic spray to try to ease the bites. I didn’t want to take it. I didn’t want to spray it. I was just left there with my swollen ankle and hand and was like, ‘I’m just going to tough it out.’” This determination underlines her commitment to adhering to strict doping guidelines, even at the cost of personal discomfort.
This incident follows another setback for Raducanu, who suffered a back spasm that forced her to withdraw from a warm-up tournament in Auckland. Combined with her ant bite ordeal, these challenges have raised questions about her physical readiness for the Australian Open.
Despite these obstacles, Raducanu remains focused on her first-round match against No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. The 20-year-old British tennis star is determined to overcome these challenges and make a strong showing in the
