Emma Raducanu became a tennis superstar in 2021 after winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Raducanu, 18 years old at the time, became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam title after defeating Leylah Fernandez in the final.
Raducanu became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships.
Emma Raducanu won her first Grand Slam too soon – Prove me wrong!
Since winning the title in New York, Raducanu has failed to reach another WTA Tour-level final, let alone win a tournament.
While Raducanu’s triumph was undoubtedly a special moment in every respect, it may have had an inhibiting influence on her career.
Mark Woodforde says Emma Raducanu’s US Open triumph came ‘too soon’ in her career
Mark Woodforde is a legendary Australian doubles player who won 12 Grand Slam titles during his career.
The Australian, who also rose to world number 19 in singles, has weighed in on Emma Raducanu’s US Open triumph and the difficulty of winning a major early on in a career.
“We shouldn’t judge her on that one result at the US Open,” Woodforde told Tennis365.
“If she can replicate what she did in New York, that would be brilliant, but it was probably something that happened too soon, too quickly in her career.
“It’s not that you wouldn’t want it to happen to you, but in a country that has been starved of female players and desperate for her to do well, it must have been very difficult for her.
“What was encouraging was that over there were times last year when she seemed to be starting to build the foundation again to show some of that form that was discovered at the US Open a few years back.
“It is a hard one to judge right now, but I’m sure UK and British tennis praying on their hands and knees that she is successful. She has put some life back into British women’s tennis and the momentum for players like Katie Boulter has been inspired by the success of Emma Raducanu.”
Regarding Raducanu’s encouraging 2025 season, Woodforde is far from incorrect.
The British star enjoyed her best year on the Tour since 2021, rising to world number 29. As a result, she will be a seeded player at a Grand Slam event [2026 Australian Open] for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open.
Raducanu began her 2026 season at the United Cup, where she lost to Greece’s Maria Sakkari in three sets.
Emma Raducanu’s last Grand Slam as a seeded player
Emma Raducanu entered the 2022 Australian Open with high hopes following her success at the 2021 US Open.
Seeded 17th, the British star began emphatically, defeating 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-0, 2-6, 6-1.
However, her run was brought to an end in the next round. Raducanu was defeated by Danka Kovinic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
How likely is it that Emma Raducanu wins another Grand Slam, and why?
American star Sofia Kenin won the 2020 title, defeating Garbine Muguruza in the final.
