The tennis world is advising Emma Raducanu to realign her ambitions in the wake of a lacklustre beginning to the 2025 season. Despite her groundbreaking achievement at the 2021 US Open, where she became the first-ever qualifier to clinch a Grand Slam title, the British ace has experienced a series of hurdles since then. Currently ranked 55th in the world, Raducanu has found it challenging to maintain a winning streak, with a meagre 3-6 record this season, reflecting the harsh reality of her current performance.
Once a top 10 player and a Major champion, Raducanu’s fans hold hope of seeing her re-enter the top 20. Her victory at the US Open over four years ago remains her most notable achievement, with semi-final appearances at Seoul in 2022 and Nottingham in 2024 being other significant milestones. However, persistent injuries, frequent coaching changes, and inconsistent gameplay have marred her progress.
Raducanu, who holds the second position in Britain, showed a glimmer of promise when she made it to the third round of the Australian Open, only to follow it with a career-worst losing streak of four consecutive defeats. The recent early exit at Indian Wells has prompted tennis enthusiasts to ponder upon what a successful season would look like for the 22-year-old British player in 2025.
Despite having once been ranked as high as No. 10 globally, expectations for Raducanu have waned following a challenging few years. According to a poll by Express Sport, 47% of readers believe Raducanu should target a return to the top 20. Additionally, 43% think that securing a title would signify a successful year, whereas 10% suggest that aiming for a Grand Slam quarter-final should be the goal. While all these targets are within Raducanu’s reach, the lowered expectations serve as a sombre reminder of her recent inconsistency on the court.
Moreover, British tennis supporters are rallying behind another player, Jack Draper, currently ranked 14th on the ATP, with 58% believing that he will end his career with more Slam titles than Raducanu.
Raducanu herself acknowledges the need for significant improvements in her game after her recent slump. Following her initial defeat at Indian Wells, she expressed her desire to enhance her point initiation, be more aggressive, and deliver higher-quality shots. Raducanu candidly admitted that every aspect of her game could use improvement after her lacklustre performance.
