Emma Raducanu’s 2025 season was one of newfound form and fitness, resulting in a consistent rise up the rankings.
Consistency was the name of her campaign, as the Brit, formerly renowned for her injury troubles, enjoyed a strong period of regular tournaments that she had previously struggled to find.
This, alongside Mark Petchey and later Francisco Roig’s guidance, helped her finish the year ranked 29th in the world. Emma Raducanu will now be seeded for the 2026 Australian Open.
Looking ahead to that year, and the 22-year-old will be hopeful that she can build upon a promising past 11 months.
Fortunately, she has just made two big, bold and very smart decisions that should help achieve that feat.
Emma Raducanu withdraws from events and hires new physio
The first decision was actually one that seems to have been forced upon her.
Raducanu will no longer play two exhibition matches in early December, withdrawing from matches in Miami and New Jersey due to bruising on her right foot.
No matter the seriousness of this issue, choosing to focus on her long-term fitness is definitely the smartest move in this situation, and should help her tackle the United Cup at the start of January with renewed freshness.
Raducanu and Jack Draper have been handed a tough draw at the United Cup though, and will have to be fresh to challenge their opponents.
Not only that, but it was then revealed that Raducanu had also added a new member to her coaching staff, with former WTA physio Emma Stewart joining the team.
The plan is for Raducanu to head to Barcelona for pre-season training with Roig soon.
Francisco Roig could transform Emma Raducanu in 2026
Whilst Petchey must be lauded for his role in restoring Raducanu throughout the first half of 2025, it is now Roig trusted to carry on that progression.
And, there have already been signs of promise under his watchful eye, most notably the British number one’s battling loss to the world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati.
Speaking about the Spaniard back in August, Raducanu was full of praise for the former coach of Rafael Nadal, suggesting the two get on well.
A good relationship is paramount to a strong working relationship, and so it bodes well, given that she claimed: “I think we get on really well. I think we fit great. He is so experienced, and we have been doing a lot of hours on the practice court, which I think has been helping me, and we both like spending time on the court, which is a good thing.”
With smarter decisions like these, and a top-level coach like Roig by her side, 2026 could be one where Raducanu establishes herself as a real threat on the WTA Tour.
