What started as a promising 2025 season for Emma Raducanu has now turned into a nightmare. The former US Open champion has now suffered her fourth consecutive defeat, crashing out of the Qatar Open after another gut-wrenching loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova.
After a strong start to the year, including a five-match win streak at the Australian Open, Raducanu’s momentum has completely unraveled. From a 6-1, 6-0 humiliation at the hands of Iga Swiatek to early exits in Singapore and Abu Dhabi, the 22-year-old Brit is struggling to regain her footing on tour.
Qatar Open: A Missed Opportunity for Redemption
Raducanu entered Doha’s WTA 1000 event with a golden opportunity—a wild card into the main draw, a chance to earn valuable ranking points, and a winnable first-round match against Alexandrova, a player she had already beaten at the Australian Open.
Everything seemed to be falling into place. Raducanu led 3-1, 40-15 in the first set, playing with aggression and confidence. But just as quickly as she built a lead, she let it slip away.
🔹 Three missed break points at 3-1
🔹 Broken back at 3-3
🔹 Another wasted break point before losing the set 3-6
The second set followed a painfully familiar script. Raducanu led 3-1 once again, only to see her advantage disappear. At 5-5, the pressure mounted, and Alexandrova capitalized, breaking once more before closing out the match 6-3, 7-5.
Four Straight Losses—What’s Gone Wrong?
After a hopeful start to 2025, Raducanu now finds herself in a full-blown crisis:
🚨 Australian Open (3rd Round): Lost 6-1, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek
🚨 Singapore Open (1st Round): Lost to Cristina Bucsa
🚨 Abu Dhabi Open (1st Round): Lost to Marketa Vondrousova
🚨 Qatar Open (1st Round): Lost 6-3, 7-5 to Ekaterina Alexandrova
The Harsh Reality: Confidence Is at an All-Time Low
The biggest concern isn’t just the losses—it’s how Raducanu is losing matches she should be winning. She had:
🔹 Multiple leads that she failed to hold
🔹 Missed crucial break points
🔹 Struggled to close out key games under pressure
Raducanu’s talent is undeniable, but her lack of confidence in crucial moments is costing her dearly. When the pressure is on, she’s hesitating instead of seizing control—a stark contrast to the fearless player who won the 2021 US Open without dropping a set.
What’s Next for Raducanu?
Raducanu will head back to the practice courts, desperately searching for answers before her next tournament. The wild cards won’t last forever—if she doesn’t start winning soon, her ranking could plummet further, forcing her to grind through qualifiers just to make WTA main draws.
Meanwhile, Ekaterina Alexandrova moves on to face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round—a matchup Raducanu should have been in.
The Verdict: Is This Just a Slump or a Long-Term Decline?
The pressure is mounting on Raducanu to find solutions fast. If she doesn’t, 2025 could be another season of frustration, missed opportunities, and sliding further from the top of the game.
With a mental reset and renewed focus, she still has the tools to turn things around. But time is running out—and if Raducanu doesn’t find a way to stop the bleeding soon, the comeback trail will only get steeper.