The year 2025 hasn’t been a cakewalk for British Grand Slam Champion, Emma Raducanu, whose recent performance at the Indian Wells 1R match has left her with an unfortunate new record in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 level. In a surprising turn of events, Raducanu now holds the record for the lowest win percentage among all former Grand Slam winners since the WTA 1000 level’s inception a decade and a half ago.
Raducanu, who made headlines with her triumphant performance at the 2021 US Open, found herself struggling against her opponent Moyuka Uchijima under challenging windy conditions. The match ended in a disappointing 3-6 2-6 defeat for Raducanu, adding another early exit to her 2025 record.
The loss in the desert means that Raducanu’s win-loss record in WTA 1000 events stands at 11-15, equating to a win rate of 42.3 percent, the lowest among former Grand Slam winners since her victorious stint at Flushing Meadows. This year, her WTA 1000 category record is at a bleak 1-2, having lost her opener in Doha and only making it to the second round in Dubai.
Prior to Raducanu’s recent performance, the less-than-stellar record was held by Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 French Open winner. Schiavone had a win rate of 42.3 percent, winning 42 out of her 57 WTA 1000 matches.
However, it’s important to note that the margin between Raducanu and Schiavone is razor-thin. If the 22-year-old Briton manages to secure a win in her upcoming first-round match in Miami this month, her win rate would improve to 44.4 percent, pushing Schiavone back to the bottom of the list.
Raducanu’s performance at Indian Wells was heavily impacted by the windy conditions on the day of the match. The unpredictable weather forced her to attempt awkward shots and ultimately disrupted her game. In her reflection of the match, Raducanu stated, “It was a lot of balls that were very spinny on these courts in the day and in the wind. So, I didn’t really know what was coming, I guess. I think I wasn’t able to execute necessarily very well today.”
Despite the recent setback, it remains to be seen if Raducanu can make a strong comeback in Miami. Fans and critics alike are eagerly watching for her next move on the tennis court. Whether this new record will prove to be a minor setback or a major hurdle in Raducanu’s career is a story that only time will tell.
