"We need Raducanu to be healthy, number one": Billie Jean King urges Emma Raducanu to wait for return if less than 100%

Billie Jean King shared her thoughts on Emma Raducanu's uncertain return and advised her not to rush her comeback.

The 2021 US Open champion achieved an incredible feat at Flushing Meadows, winning the tournament from the qualifiers without dropping a set at just 18 years of age. However, Raducanu struggled to maintain her top form and gradually slipped in the rankings, all while dealing with injuries that hindered her regular participation on the WTA Tour.

The 20-year-old athlete opted to undergo wrist surgery and took a hiatus for nearly the entire year, with her last match being in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in April, where she was defeated by Jelena Ostapenko with a score of 6-2, 6-1.

The American tennis legend Billie Jean King responded to an interview on Sky Sports and discussed Raducanu's challenges and the injuries she has faced over the last two years:

“We need Raducanu to be healthy, number one,” King said to Sky Sports.

“She's a great person. She's interested in the world around her, she can speak more than one language - she can speak Chinese because her mother's Chinese. She's somebody who I think is interesting as a human being.”

“I'm interested in her next chapter and I want her to be really healthy so she can play tennis, because I know she loves to play. We'll see how that goes,” former world No. 1 added.

“You've got to be healthy. If you're not, you shouldn't play, so I think they've done the right thing this year.”

While the British tennis player has not officially confirmed her return, it is likely that she will make a comeback in December, as she has an exhibition match scheduled at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters. She is set to face off against the Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.