Emma Raducanu has faced a very disrupted season once again, as a result of both injury and illness.
Raducanu last competed at the Queen’s Club Championships back in June, where she reached the final before losing to Donna Vekic.
Despite her efforts to reach the biggest final of her career since winning the US Open in 2021, Raducanu suffered a stress fracture in her lower right leg. This injury has forced Raducanu to miss both Wimbledon and the US Open this year, and means she has now dropped outside the top 100.
Raducanu has shared footage of herself back practising on the courts, but she does not appear to have any plans to play any more tournaments this year, something her compatriot Greg Rusedski believes is a smart decision.
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Greg Rusedski backs Emma Raducanu to push for the top 10 again
Raducanu is currently the world number 107, which would not be high enough for her to gain direct entry into the Australian Open. However, if the former world number 10 does not play another match this year, then she will have been out for at least six months, which is the required amount to have a protected ranking, which would be enough for her to enter the first major of 2027.
Rusedski discussed this in the latest edition of his podcast, calling it a ‘smart play’, as he backed her to be contending for the top 10 again if she is able to maintain a consistent level of fitness next year.
“I think it’s a smart play [not playing again this year],” said Rusedski. “If you think about it logically, what’s the rush? She gets an extended off-season to get physically stronger, technically better and hit the ground running in 2027.
“So even if there wasn’t that protected ranking rule, if you’re fit and doing all the right things then that gives you an impetus to push forward in 2027. And all the big events are out of the way, apart from the end of season champs in the women’s, that’s the last goal that most of the big names want to get to.
“In my opinion, if she’s healthy we saw what she can do at Queen’s and now she’s going to have a volume of work, and with that volume of work it’s going to give her an opportunity to have a good year. The big thing for Emma is can she stay healthy for an extended period of time, it’s been too many stop-starts.
“If she can get that extended period then she can get top 30, top 20, knocking back on the door to top 10, she’s too good a player, but if you’re not healthy, no matter how talented or good you are, you can’t sustain the very highest level in the men’s or the women’s game.”
| Tournaments Emma Raducanu has played in 2026 | Result |
| United Cup | 0-1 (Lost her only match against Maria Sakkari) |
| Hobart International | Quarter-final |
| Australian Open | Second Round |
| Transylvania Open | Final |
| Qatar Open | First Round |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | First Round |
| Indian Wells | Third Round |
| Strasbourg Open | First Round |
| Roland Garros | First Round |
| Queen’s Club Championships | Final |
Raducanu has dropped outside the top 100 as a result of the limited schedule she has played in 2026, playing just 10 tournaments this year.
However, there have still been some positive signs for Raducanu, who has reached her first two WTA Tour level finals this year at the Transylvania Open and the Queen’s Club Championships.
