Another title might have eluded her, but Emma Raducanu made giant strides in the 2025 season.
Raducanu missed out on LTA Female Player of the Year, but she soared back up the rankings thanks to a resurgence in form under Mark Petchey.
The British number one earned much-needed seeded entry for the 2026 Australian Open thanks to her ranking of World No. 29.
Despite the progress she made in 2025, Raducanu has revealed the mistake she believes she made last season.
Emma Raducanu shares the change she wants to make in 2026
Raducanu played a number of high-profile tournaments at the beginning of 2025, which she believes caused her to burnout later in the season.
Speaking to Laura Robson on TNT Sports, she said: “I realised last year that the season is so long. I thought at the beginning that you had to maximise every week and you do have to give your best every week, but there’s so much tennis to be played in the year that it’s really important to me to do the right steps, not rush anything, because if you go too hard too fast then you have nothing left.”
How will Emma Raducanu fare at the Australian Open after receiving this draw?
In the first three months of 2025, Raducanu competed at the Australian Open, the Singapore Tennis Open, the Abu Dhabi Open, the Qatar Open, the Dubai Masters, Indian Wells, and the Miami Open.
And while she dubbed the hectic schedule as a ‘good experience’, she is in no rush to follow the same pattern in 2026.
“Obviously I do everything I can day to day but if the results don’t come straight away as I’m not firing on all cylinders just yet. Given time, doing the right things, I’ll feel good again,” she said.
Raducanu ended her season early after struggling with illness and fitness issues on the WTA Tour’s Asian swing.
Emma Raducanu’s next opponent at the Australian Open has now been confirmed
Raducanu defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets to kickstart her 2026 Australian Open campaign.
The British number one put in her best performance of the year to win in straight sets for her second victory of 2026.
Raducanu’s next opponent will be Anastasia Potapova, who defeated Suzan Lamens in three sets in Melbourne.
Emma Raducanu won her first Grand Slam too soon – Prove me wrong!
The pair have never played each other before, but there is plenty on the line for whoever comes out on top.
A likely third round against world number one Aryna Sabalenka is up for grabs for either star if they win in the second round.
Sabalenka will play qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan in the second round, where she is the overwhelming favourite to win.
