Emma Raducanu’s greatest moment as a tennis player occurred over four years ago at the 2021 US Open.
The British number one became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam title after defeating Leylah Fernandez in the final.
Raducanu, 18 years old at the time, failed to drop a set throughout her three qualifying matches and seven main-draw contests.
However, the British star has failed to win another WTA Tour title since bursting onto the tennis scene in 2021.
At the start of 2026, Raducanu could end that unfortunate streak.
Emma Raducanu has the perfect chance to win the 2026 Hobart International
Emma Raducanu has a golden opportunity awaiting her at the 2026 Hobart International.
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The youngster, who is also representing Great Britain at the United Cup, is the second-highest ranked player on the Hobart International entry list.
Elise Mertens, the world number 20, is the only player ranked higher than Raducanu.
If the entry list stays as it is, Raducanu will be the second seed at the Hobart International.
There is another factor that will give Raducanu confidence heading into the event: she has a 2-0 record against Elise Mertens.
When considering all these factors, Raducanu has an excellent opportunity to win her first WTA Tour title in over four years.
However, there is another former Grand Slam champion in the draw who could cause Raducanu issues if were they to play each other.
Barbora Krejcikova is set to play at the Hobart International
The Czech star, a winner of seven major doubles titles alongside Ekaterina Siniakova, will travel to Hobart for the WTA 250 event.
Krejcikova is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion and a threat against any player, as demonstrated by her run to the 2025 US Open quarter-finals.
In May this year, the major champion returned to competitive play for the first time in six months at the Strasbourg Open.
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Credit: Sofascore
The Czech star, who had been recovering from a debilitating back injury, continued her return to the sport at the French Open, Queen’s Club Championships and Eastbourne Open.
Her physical issues continued at Wimbledon, where during her third round loss to Emma Navarro, Krejcikova struggled throughout the match due to illness.
Later in the year, Krejcikova reached the US Open quarter-finals, before suffering a right knee injury at the China Open.
Krejcikova, who last played a competitive match at the Limoges WTA 125 event in October, will hope her fortunes change in 2026.
