Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British tennis star and 2021 US Open champion, entered the 2025 grass-court season with high hopes of securing a coveted Wimbledon seeding, a milestone that would have shielded her from top players in the tournament’s early rounds. However, a combination of persistent injuries and a grueling schedule has left her short of the top-32 WTA ranking needed by June 23, dashing her ambitions for a protected draw at the All England Club. Despite a promising start at the Queen’s Club Championships, Raducanu’s withdrawal from the Berlin Open and ongoing back issues have cast a shadow over her preparations for Wimbledon, set to begin on June 30.
Raducanu’s grass-court campaign kicked off with a bang at Queen’s, where she reclaimed her status as British No. 1 by storming into the quarterfinals. She cruised past Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucșa 6-1, 6-2 and Slovakia’s Rebecca Šrámková 6-4, 6-1, displaying the aggressive, net-rushing style that propelled her to Grand Slam glory. However, her run ended against top seed Zheng Qinwen in a 6-2, 6-4 defeat, where a recurring back injury flared up, forcing an off-court medical timeout and reliance on painkillers. “I have been struggling with my back since Strasbourg,” Raducanu admitted, referencing a back spasm that first emerged during a clay-court loss to Danielle Collins in April. “I’m not overly concerned that it’s something serious, but it’s something that’s very annoying and needs proper and careful management.”
The decision to compete in doubles alongside Katie Boulter at Queen’s proved costly. Raducanu, who admitted her expectations were “low” due to her back issues, played five matches in as many days, including two doubles contests. “I guess as the week goes on and I have played five matches now, it just tests it out,” she said, acknowledging that the physical toll may have exacerbated her injury. Her deflated demeanor after the Zheng loss hinted at regret over the demanding schedule, a gamble that backfired and left her physically compromised. The subsequent withdrawal from the Berlin Open, a WTA 500 event featuring stars like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, eliminated her final chance to climb into the top 32. Currently ranked No. 36 in live rankings, Raducanu now faces the prospect of a daunting first-round matchup at Wimbledon, potentially against Sabalenka or Gauff.
Raducanu’s 2025 season has been a tale of resilience and frustration. After a career-worst four-match losing streak following the Australian Open, she rebounded with a fourth-round appearance at the Italian Open, where she fell to Gauff, and a quarterfinal run at Queen’s. Her clay-court progress, including wins over Susan Lamens in Madrid and a hard-fought loss to Marta Kostyuk, pushed her back into the top 50. Yet, injuries have been a constant hurdle. A back issue before the Australian Open, a retirement against Bianca Andreescu at the Italian Open, and now the Strasbourg flare-up have disrupted her momentum. “I think it’s just a vulnerability of mine,” Raducanu said of her back. “I know I need to take good care of it.”
The missed seeding at Wimbledon is a blow, but Raducanu’s mindset has evolved. “I think maybe my goals have slightly shifted from being seeded to actually improving my game,” she reflected after Queen’s, emphasizing development over rankings. Her grass-court pedigree—reaching Wimbledon’s fourth round in 2021 and 2024, and scoring her first top-10 win over Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne in 2024—offers hope. She plans to compete at the Eastbourne Open, a WTA 250 event from June 23-28, aiming to build match fitness before Wimbledon. “I need to let the back rest,” she said, prioritizing recovery at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Fans remain divided, with some praising her cautious approach, while others label her injury-prone. Chris Evert, commenting on Raducanu’s media scrutiny, noted, “I just feel she has lost so many years of her career because of the whole thing around the one big win.” As Raducanu navigates her next steps, her focus is clear: stay healthy and compete fearlessly. Whether she faces a top seed early or carves out another deep Wimbledon run, her journey promises to captivate British fans eager for their star to shine again.
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