Emma Raducanu would ‘love’ to play Paris 2024 Olympics – but will she be eligible for Great Britain?

Emma Raducanu has said she would “love” to play at the Paris 2024 Olympics – but will she be eligible for the Great Britain team?

It is not known when she will return to the tour, although she is signed up to play the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in April rather than playing in the Billie Jean King Cup for Great Britain.

So will Raducanu play the Olympics at Roland Garros and what are the rules that could prevent her joining the team?

What has Raducanu said about the Olympics?

Asked on Wednesday why she made that decision, world No. 72 Raducanu said: “Because of my existing injuries, the best medical advice was to not switch surfaces at such short notice. So that’s what I’ve been told.”

The BJK Cup tie against France on April 14-15 will be played on hard courts while the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, which starts on April 15, is on indoor clay.

“Of course I would love to play the Billie Jean King Cup,” added Raducanu.

“It’s just this scenario is not the best for my body. I really need to look after myself and do what’s best for me on the match court.”

Raducanu was also asked about the potential of playing the tennis event at Paris 2024, which is also on clay and starts on July 27.

“Of course, I would love to play the Olympics,” said the 2021 US Open champion.

Will Raducanu be eligible to play in Paris?

To be eligible to compete at the Olympics a player needs to have represented their country in the Billie Jean King Cup or Davis Cup at least twice during the Olympic cycle.

So far Raducanu has only played for GB once in this Olympic cycle, against Czech Republic last April.

Raducanu didn’t play the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Glasgow in November due to a wrist problem, but said at the time she was “looking forward to playing next year”. She also didn’t feature for GB at the United Cup in Australia in January, opting instead to play a WTA event in Auckland.

To ensure she is eligible for the Olympics, Raducanu will need to make at least one more BJK Cup appearance beforehand. She will have the chance to do so as Great Britain will play again later this year and early in 2024.

Even if Raducanu doesn’t play in the BJK Cup she could still make the team.

If Raducanu can’t get a spot that way, there are also two places reserved for Grand Slam singles champions who didn’t qualify through other criteria as long as they are ranked inside the top 400 in the world.

Where will Raducanu play next?

Raducanu is set to seek answers to her “annoying and frustrating” wrist problem following the Miami Open.

She added she is able to “play in the short term but the current solutions aren’t very viable long term”.

Whether that means she will be ready to play on clay in a few weeks’ time remains to be seen.

Raducanu made the quarter-finals in Stuttgart last season and last 16 of the Madrid Open, so has ranking points to defend at both events.

If Raducanu does miss both events she could drop out of the top 100.

Andreescu backed Raducanu to rise back up the rankings following their Miami meeting.

“I think she’s playing great tennis,” said Andreescu.

“I’m really happy that she’s back at it and playing like this. If she continues playing like this, she can definitely get back into the top 10.”

Great Britain’s team for their BJK Cup clash against France is: Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Katie Boulter, Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls.

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