Emma Raducanu, the former US Open champion, is grappling with a challenging phase in her career. A series of losses in recent encounters have seen her ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) slip from 55 to 60. A particular shock was her defeat by Moyuka Uchijima in the initial round at Indian Wells earlier in March. This setback has put Raducanu under pressure to regain her winning stride, with her sights set on the upcoming Miami Open.
The British tennis sensation’s hopes are pinned on the Miami Open, a tournament she missed last year due to injury. This event presents a chance for Raducanu to recover valuable ranking points and get her game back on track. She is set to go up against Sayaka Ishii in the first round of the competition on Wednesday.
The lion’s share of Raducanu’s WTA ranking points were accrued during last year’s grass court season. She had a commendable run, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and amassing 240 points. Other noteworthy performances include making it to the semi-finals at the Nottingham Open and the quarter-finals in Eastbourne, earning 98 and 108 points respectively.
The upcoming Billie Jean King Cup offers Raducanu another platform to regain her form ahead of a hectic season. The British No. 2 will be keen to make up for her surprising first-round defeat in the Madrid Open last year, where she was defeated by Maria Lourdes Carle, only securing 10 points.
Another chance to defend her points is on the horizon at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Last year, Raducanu collected 108 points after a quarter-final finish at the event. A subsequent return to American soil will afford her the chance to build on her performance at the Mubadala City DC Open in Washington. She had previously found her rhythm at this event, making it to the quarter-finals and collecting 108 points before heading to the US Open.
Despite her previous success at the US Open, Raducanu’s dreams of defending her title were dashed in the opening round last year when she lost to Sofia Kenin. This year, she’s determined to rewrite that narrative. Following the US Open, Raducanu will be in a position to decide whether she wants to participate in the Asian leg of the WTA 500 season. Her past performance in Asia is noteworthy, as she reached the quarter-finals of the Korea Open last year, which boosted her ranking points by 108.
In the face of this challenging period, Raducanu is determined to bounce back and demonstrate the prowess that won her the US Open title. With several opportunities on the horizon, she has the potential to turn the tide and restore her winning streak.