Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is preparing for her long-awaited return to the WTA Tour later this month, but the path ahead looks challenging as she faces a potentially difficult draw. Raducanu has been absent from the tour for an extended period due to a series of injuries that have derailed her 2024 season. Now, as she attempts to make a comeback, she could face stiff competition in her first tournament back, which will be a critical test of her resilience and readiness.
Raducanu’s time on the court has been severely limited over the past year. Her absence has sparked criticism from some quarters, particularly for her decision to skip certain high-profile tournaments, including the French Open and the WTA 1000 event in Montreal, where she opted not to play in the qualifying rounds. Instead, Raducanu chose to focus on preparing for the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, but her lack of match practice proved costly. She entered the tournament with only one warm-up event under her belt and was eliminated in the first round by former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin, in a disappointing defeat that reflected her rustiness on the court.
Following her early exit from New York, Raducanu admitted that she needed to reassess her approach to the sport. She hinted that the decisions regarding her schedule were not entirely hers, suggesting that her team played a significant role in determining which tournaments she participated in. “I’m just going to go back to the drawing board and train and analyze where I went wrong,” Raducanu said in her post-match press conference. “Obviously, the Slams are over for this year, but it’s not actually that long until Australia comes around again.”
Raducanu acknowledged that her lack of matches ahead of the US Open had been detrimental to her performance, expressing regret that she had not played more tournaments. “I would have preferred to probably play a little bit more before coming into the US Open,” she said. “When I have a lot of matches, just like every player, you feel really good, you feel like everything’s automatic. I can learn from it and manage my schedule slightly differently.” Her comments suggest that moving forward, she will take a more active role in managing her playing schedule to ensure she gets the match practice she needs to be competitive.
Raducanu had initially planned to take part in the Asian swing of the WTA Tour, hoping to play a full schedule of tournaments to regain her form. However, her plans were derailed by a foot injury that forced her to withdraw from several key events, including the China Open, the Wuhan Open, the Ningbo Open, and the Guangzhou Open. The injury was especially disappointing for Raducanu, who has Chinese heritage and was eager to compete in the country for the first time. The withdrawals marked another frustrating setback in what has been a stop-start year for the young Brit, who has struggled to build momentum since her breakout US Open win.
Now, Raducanu is hopeful of making her return at the Hong Kong Open, a tournament that will feature a high-quality draw. Ranked No. 54 in the live WTA Rankings, she could face a challenging field as she works her way back into competitive tennis. Among the top players expected to participate is World No. 9 Danielle Collins, who is set to be the top seed in Hong Kong. Other potential opponents include Leylah Fernandez, Raducanu’s opponent in the memorable 2021 US Open final, which saw Raducanu claim her first Grand Slam title. A rematch between the two young stars would undoubtedly draw significant attention.
Also entered in the Hong Kong Open are fellow Brit Katie Boulter and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who has been working her way back from her own injury struggles. Raducanu could also face a familiar foe in Lulu Sun, the Swiss player who defeated her in the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year. With no ranking points to defend for the rest of the season, Raducanu has an opportunity to climb back into the WTA’s top 50 with a strong showing in Hong Kong.
In addition to her individual goals, Raducanu has her sights set on playing for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which will be held in Malaga next month. The Hong Kong Open presents a crucial opportunity for Raducanu to get match practice ahead of the team competition, where she will be representing her country.
However, it remains unclear how much preparation Raducanu has been able to do ahead of her return. She was recently seen wearing a protective boot on her injured foot in London, raising questions about her fitness. Despite this, the signs appear positive as Raducanu aims to finish the season on a high note and regain the form that took her to Grand Slam glory just a few years ago. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how she performs in her comeback tournament, as her ability to compete at the highest level remains one of the sport’s most intriguing storylines.
As Raducanu steps back onto the court, she will be looking not only to prove her critics wrong but also to remind the tennis world of the immense talent that made her a household name in 2021.