In this file photo dated March 13, 2022, Emma Raducanu of Britain returns to Petra Martic (not in photograph) of Croatia at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California. (PHOTO / AP)

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu said it was difficult to watch this year's Grand Slams from the sidelines following wrist and ankle surgeries but the 20-year-old is targeting a comeback next season after dropping outside the world's top 200.

Raducanu, who won her maiden Grand Slam title in New York as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021, has not played since April, missing the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open and dropping to number 214 in the rankings.

The Briton said she had started practising in August after surgery on both wrists and her ankle.

"Next season I'll be back," she told the BBC.

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In this file photo dated Sept 11, 2021, Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2021 US Open Tennis tournament women's final match against Canada's Leylah Fernandez at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (PHOTO / AFP)

"This season all the Slams were finished so it was difficult to watch them go by, but I was trying to stay in my lane as much as possible and keep focused on my recovery."

Raducanu has not crossed the second round of a Grand Slam since her Flushing Meadows triumph and has come in for her fair share of criticism.

"The fact they're still talking about me even though I'm not at these events is just a compliment," the former world number 10 said.

"Someone told me, 'worry when they're not talking about you'.

READ MORE: Surgery rules Raducanu out of French Open, Wimbledon

"Wimbledon is the dream and always has been growing up. It's still the ultimate dream to win Wimbledon."