Emma Raducanu Warned of Rankings Battle Despite Glimpses of Form

Emma Raducanu, the young tennis sensation, has been cautioned about the challenges she faces in climbing back up the WTA Rankings, following a dip to No 250 after her previous stellar ranking of No 10 post her remarkable victory at the 2021 US Open. Recently, she dropped further on the LIVE Rankings to No 287 after bowing out in the third round of the Indian Wells Open.

Raducanu, having accepted wildcard entries for the forthcoming Miami Open and the Stuttgart Open, is advised that she may need to transition to playing smaller tournaments or go through qualifiers in larger events to progress in the rankings.

During the Indian Wells Open, Raducanu exhibited glimpses of her true potential, securing convincing victories in earlier rounds. Despite her exit in the third round against Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, she displayed resilience and fighting spirit.

Sky Sports Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend emphasized the uphill battle Raducanu faces, pointing out the necessity of acclimatizing to playing in lower-profile tournaments in her journey back up the rankings after achieving such a monumental feat early in her career.

Former world no. 76 Naomi Broady echoed the sentiment that Raducanu’s current phase is a learning curve, highlighting the importance of overcoming injuries, training properly, and managing various aspects beyond just tennis skills, which come with experience.