Emma Raducanu: How British number one’s 2025 season unfolded – and what future could hold

Of Raducanu’s 22 defeats, only seven came against lower-ranked opponents, with three in the past month alone.

But beating the very best, who often possess greater power, has proved beyond her so far.

She lost 10 of her 11 matches against top-10 players in 2025, the exception being a victory over Emma Navarro in Miami in March.

She was very competitive against world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Wimbledon’s Centre Court – and took her to a third set tie-break in Cincinnati – but there was little room for encouragement elsewhere.

After a 6-1 6-2 loss to ninth seed Elena Rybakina at the US Open, Raducanu reflected on where she needs to improve to change the narrative.

“My serve – it’s been better, but I think it can get better [still],” she told BBC Sport.

“The ball after the serve as well, so I’m ready for a fast return. I think that’s where I still have some big work to do.

“I think starting the point is extremely important when you are playing at that kind of level.”

Raducanu developed an unfortunate habit in Asia of failing to convert match points.

Last year’s Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova saved three against her in Seoul, and then world number five Jessica Pegula did exactly the same in Beijing a week later.

More concerning, though, was the way Raducanu faded in the deciding set of those matches. Against Pegula, Raducanu went for broke and subsided quickly.

This was not something you could have accused her of over the summer, and was perhaps a sign of a body and mind wearied by nine months on the road.

Source link