Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has sent ripples through the tennis world with a significant shift in her 2025 grass-court schedule, opting to compete in the prestigious Berlin Open from June 16-22. The British star, currently ranked No. 43, has chosen to bypass the WTA 250 event in Nottingham, where she reached the semifinals in 2024, to join a star-studded field in Berlin that includes nine of the WTA’s top 10 players, with only Iga Swiatek absent. This strategic move signals Raducanu’s ambition to elevate her game against elite competition as she builds toward Wimbledon, where she aims to surpass her 2021 and 2024 fourth-round finishes. The decision, announced on May 21, 2025, underscores her determination to reclaim her place among tennis’s elite after a career marked by both dazzling triumphs and injury setbacks.
Raducanu’s grass-court campaign will kick off at the Queen’s Club in London, a historic WTA 500 event returning to the women’s calendar after a 50-year hiatus. Set for June 9-15, the tournament offers a high-profile stage in the capital, where Raducanu will relish the home crowd’s support. “An element of me forgot what it was like to play at home. Having that much support behind me is amazing,” she said last year after her Nottingham victory over Ena Shibahara, a 6-1, 6-4 rout that marked her return to grass after a 713-day absence. Her performance at Queen’s, where she’ll face top-tier competition, will set the tone for her Berlin debut. The Berlin Open, a WTA 500 event, promises fierce battles, with players like Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula in the mix. Raducanu’s choice to compete there reflects her confidence in her grass-court prowess, where she boasts a 61.1% win rate (11-7), outpacing her 55.6% on clay and 55.1% on hard courts.
Last year’s grass season showcased Raducanu’s potential on the surface. At Nottingham, she powered through early rounds, defeating Shibahara and earning a walkover against Fran Jones before falling to eventual champion Katie Boulter in the semifinals. She followed with a quarterfinal run at Eastbourne, where she notched her first career top-10 win over Pegula (No. 5) before losing to Daria Kasatkina. At Wimbledon, Raducanu thrilled fans by upsetting No. 9 Maria Sakkari in straight sets, saving all seven break points, before exiting in the fourth round to Lulu Sun. “I’m really proud of my performance,” she said after her Eastbourne win, noting her growing comfort on grass. Her 2024 grass season, which included an 11-7 record, was a testament to her resilience after missing 2023 due to wrist and ankle surgeries. “I think my wrists are actually in a better position than they ever were,” she remarked, crediting her recovery to rigorous training with new fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura, formerly of Maria Sharapova’s team.
The decision to skip Nottingham, a tournament she cherished for its home support, was not taken lightly. “I’m very lucky to have support wherever I go, but it’s not quite like playing in the UK in front of everyone on the grass,” she said in 2024. However, the Berlin Open offers a chance to test herself against the world’s best, a critical step for a player who has played only 33 matches in 2024 due to injuries. Her 2025 schedule reflects a broader shift in mindset, with a focus on physical resilience and strategic tournament selection. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman praised her approach, saying, “If she can stay healthy and competes a lot, the results will come because she’s that good.” Raducanu’s clay season, which included a Rome last-16 run and a Strasbourg wildcard, showed promise, but her 5-2 clay record this year pales against her grass-court potential.
Raducanu’s Berlin entry could also influence her plans for the following week, June 23-29, with Eastbourne and Bad Homburg as options before Wimbledon (June 30-July 13). Her team, including coach Mark Petchey, is prioritizing consistency over risky scheduling. “I’m excited and just itchy to get on the practice court,” Raducanu said after her 2024 Billie Jean King Cup heroics, where she went 5-0. With Nakamura’s guidance, she aims to become “one of the best athletes in tennis.” As she prepares for Queen’s and Berlin, Raducanu’s bold schedule change signals a player ready to embrace bigger challenges, with Wimbledon’s Centre Court in her sights.
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