What Emma Raducanu Must Do To Break into Top 10 Analyzed By Former Player
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Eurosport presenter and former WTA player Barbara Schett would like to see Emma Raducanu succeed in 2025 and outlined the necessary factors for her to climb the rankings.
Raducanu was set to start the new season in Auckland at the ASB Classic. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old withdrew from the tournament because of a back niggle sustained while practicing ahead of the event.
That means she will play at the Australian Open having not competed at any of the warmup tournaments before the season's opening Grand Slam, which could leave her undercooked in Melbourne.
Raducanu will undoubtedly need to be sharp in the opening round at the Australian Open against the 25th seed and big-serving Ekaterina Alexandrova. She would make a statement by overcoming someone of Alexandrova's quality in her first match of the year.
It has been over three years since Raducanu stunned the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier without dropping a set. It remains one of the most unexpected moments in tennis history.
While success was never guaranteed after that moment, Raducanu's failure to reach a WTA final since that triumph is surprising. She has suffered from injury and form issues in the years since her US Open victory.
Schett discussed Raducanu's hopes for 2025 during an interview with Tennis365. The Austrian thinks her inability to compete for several weeks in succession has been damaging and hopes she can play 25 tournaments without interruptions.
"I don’t know how many continuous weeks she has played over the last three years. There always seem to be disruptions with health issues and injuries. It’s been sad. I just wish she could play for a whole year and then we could see what she can do."
"Let’s see her play 25 tournaments in a year and see where she can be. The problem when you have these constant setbacks is you never get a chance to build up momentum and you always doubt yourself."
The Eurosport presenter does not believe Raducanu breaking into the Top 10 or Top 20 is impossible. However, she thinks it depends on the Briton's motivation and her ability to not worry about injuries.
"You worry about getting injured and you don’t want to have those thoughts in your head when you are on court. It’s hard to believe it’s more than three years since that amazing US Open run and it would be great for tennis if she can come back and compete at the top again."
"Let’s see how she goes. I wish her all the best to break into the top 10 or the top 20 this year, but we just don’t know whether the motivation is there for her. There’s no doubt the talent is there, but we don’t know what’s going on in her head."
Although there are uncertainties surrounding Raducanu's chances in 2025, Schett is encouraged by how happy she seems and believes anything is possible if the former US Open champion remains fit.
"I follow her on social media and she always looks happy. I hope that is the case and if she can play every week, anything is possible. I think she is a player who needs matches to build up her form. It’s not easy to have a few months out and then come to get back quickly."
