Emma Raducanu has conceded there are “elements of FOMO” about choosing to skip the Olympic Games – but insists she made the right call.
The 21-year-old will be in action at the Citi Open in Washington D.C this week, playing for the first time since reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Many had expected Radacanu to use her status as a former US Open champion to try and earn a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer and make her Games debut.
However, the Brit instead decided to avoid making two quick surface changes, and head straight to North America for the hard-court summer.
Raducanu returned to WTA action at the beginning of the season after an injury-ravaged 2023, with protecting her physical ability a key aspect of her 2024 campaign.
Speaking before her Washington campaign, Raducanu backed her decision to focus on hard-court action this year, with a US Open spot in late August already secured.
However, she admitted that she had “FOMO” watching the Olympic opening ceremony.
Emma Raducanu News
She said: “I would say for me, staying on one surface is important.
“The change in surface isn’t the best thing for me right now. In the future, maybe it would have been.
“At this moment in time, I think switching to clay straight after grass, it’s such a big contrast, then back onto the hard courts, I didn’t want to risk anything. For me, this option was just a lot better.
“Of course, there are elements of FOMO, missing out. Watching the Olympic ceremony, everybody in their team kits, a part of you obviously wants to be there and representing your country.
“I think when I think big picture, long-term, it’s the right call.”
Raducanu is by no means the only notable name to skip Paris 2024, with the combined WTA and ATP 500 event in the US capital containing a stacked field this year.
The women’s event is headlined by former world No 1 and current No 3 Aryna Sabalenka, with the Australian Open champion in action for the first time since her Wimbledon withdrawal.
Three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur is also in action, as are the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Paula Badosa, and Karolina Pliskova.
World No 9 Andrey Rublev is the top seed in the men’s draw, with the Russian searching for form after a challenging few months.
Also in the field are home favourites Ben Shelton, Sebastian Korda, and Frances Tiafoe – all of whom would have been eligible to represent Team USA in Paris.
Raducanu’s campaign starts against Elise Mertens – who she beat in round two of Wimbledon.
