Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British tennis sensation, is setting her sights high for 2025, with a clearly defined roadmap for the year. After a promising start with a run to the third round of the Australian Open, Raducanu is determined to leverage her improved ranking, and seize the opportunity to participate in numerous tournaments in the coming months.
Raducanu’s plan for this year is to increase her court time. “I want to play more than I did this year,” she emphasized. With her current set-up, she believes she can continue her physical training even while on the move. This means she won’t have to always return home to maintain her fitness levels. She envisions a regimen of daily, incremental training, which she believes will greatly benefit her performance in the coming year.
In addition to her physical conditioning, Raducanu also feels confident about her tennis skills. She expressed her eagerness to push her limits and see how much she can achieve. She also emphasized the importance of staying healthy for her to play more.
As we delve into the Raducanu narrative, there’s a lot to look forward to from this much-discussed tennis player. After a disappointing streak following the Australian Open, where she lost her opening matches at the Singapore Tennis Open, Abu Dhabi Open, and Qatar Open, she bounced back with a win against Maria Sakkari at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Up next on Raducanu’s roster are the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Double.
Raducanu experienced a significant boost in her WTA Ranking after her stunning 2021 US Open victory, breaking into the top 10. Despite an injury setback in 2023, which saw her ranking drop outside the top 200, she made a comeback in 2024, reentering the top 100. As of now, Raducanu is ranked 55th in the world.
When it comes to earnings, Raducanu’s career prize money amounts to $4,752,127. A significant portion of this came from her $2.5 million win at the 2021 US Open. Her off-court earnings, bolstered by endorsements from A-list brands like Dior, Porsche, Tiffany, British Airways, Vodafone, and Evian, far surpass her prize money. While it is unclear which of these brands still retain Raducanu as a brand ambassador, industry experts estimate her sponsorship earnings to be north of $20 million.
Raducanu’s most significant win to date remains her 2021 US Open victory, which catapulted her to the status of a sporting superstar. She has since held her own against top players, with victories over USA’s world No. 5 on grass at Eastbourne in June 2024 and world No. 9 Maria Sakkari at Wimbledon a few weeks later.
Opinions about Raducanu are varied. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman expressed confidence that with health on her side and more matches under her belt, Raducanu’s results will improve. Tennis legend John McEnroe said he was sometimes puzzled by her performance, while former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash acknowledged her top-level talent. Former world No. 7 Barbara Schett wished her the best but also expressed concerns about her motivation.
As the tennis world watches with bated breath, only time will tell how high Raducanu’s star will rise.
