Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British tennis star, revealed she refused to use an antiseptic spray to treat insect bites before the Australian Open. Despite her swollen hand and ankle, Raducanu chose not to use the spray due to fears that it could lead to contamination and a positive doping test.

• Raducanu was badly bitten by insects, possibly ants or mosquitoes, causing severe swelling.
• She was offered a natural antiseptic spray, but chose not to apply it due to concerns about drug testing.
• Raducanu emphasized the importance of being cautious about what athletes use, stating that doping tests are a significant concern for all players.

In addition to the insect bites, Raducanu had previously pulled out of the Auckland warm-up tournament due to a back issue, which she later explained was caused by a spasm during a training session in London. However, she has been training intensively in Melbourne and feels ready for the tournament, having trained with top players and feeling confident about her game.

Raducanu will face 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her first-round match. Despite the tough draw, Raducanu is ready to compete, embracing an underdog mentality and aiming to be a dangerous opponent for anyone she faces.