Emma Raducanu finds herself in a pivotal moment of her career, standing just inside the top 300 in the world rankings. Her current ranking makes it challenging to gain direct entry into Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) events, a situation that has led her to consider dropping down a level to the second-tier International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit. Raducanu’s recent three-set loss to China’s Yafan Wang has underscored her need for more consistent match play, and she is candid about the possibility of playing in smaller tournaments to sharpen her skills and rebuild her confidence.
### The Challenge of Rankings and Access
Currently, Raducanu’s ranking does not guarantee her automatic entry into most WTA events, which are the premier competitions in professional women’s tennis. Her position just inside the top 300 is a far cry from where she stood after her meteoric rise in 2021, following her stunning US Open victory. The ranking barrier has already affected her tournament planning; while she has received a wildcard for the Abu Dhabi Open starting on February 5, her participation in the prestigious Middle Eastern events that follow—namely, the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships—remains uncertain. If these tournaments do not extend wildcard invitations, Raducanu may be forced to compete in smaller ITF events, which offer significantly less prize money and visibility.
### Considering the ITF Circuit: A Step Back or a Strategic Move?
Dropping down to the ITF circuit might seem like a step back for Raducanu, who shot to global fame with her historic Grand Slam victory in New York. However, she is not ruling out this option. In fact, she is embracing it with a pragmatic mindset. “I really believe that the difference in level between the quote ‘lower-level tournaments’ and these tournaments is not that big,” she said during a press conference in Melbourne. According to Raducanu, the skills gained from playing on the ITF circuit—such as adapting to challenging conditions like wind—are invaluable. Her recent opponent, Wang, who has played extensively on the ITF circuit, demonstrated how match experience can be a crucial asset.
Raducanu’s willingness to consider ITF tournaments is a strategic move to secure more competitive matches. She acknowledges that more time on court, even in lower-profile events, could be instrumental in regaining her form. After the Abu Dhabi Open, she may play a $40,000 ITF event at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton or a $60,000 tournament in Porto. While the financial rewards—£3,140 and £4,750 for winning those tournaments, respectively—are modest compared to the millions she has already earned, the match experience could prove priceless.
### Eyeing the Big Stage: The Sunshine Double
Beyond February, Raducanu’s focus will shift to the American hard-court season, particularly the “Sunshine Double”—the back-to-back tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, which span much of March. These events are among the most prestigious on the WTA calendar outside of the Grand Slams, and Raducanu hopes to be in peak condition to compete in them. Her protected ranking of No. 103 allows her to enter the qualifying rounds for both tournaments, but she appears eager to gain match experience before then. “I would love to compete beforehand,” she said when asked about her plans for the upcoming American tournaments. “It’s about tidying some things up in my game and getting a decent run of matches.”
### Refining Her Game and Addressing Fitness Concerns
One of the areas Raducanu is focused on is her physical conditioning. During her recent matches in Australia and New Zealand, three of the four encounters went to three sets, and in two of those, she appeared to struggle physically. Even in her win against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Auckland, she found herself under pressure late in the match, relying on her serve to escape a tight situation. This has raised questions about whether she should hire a dedicated fitness trainer to travel with her, especially for two-week tournaments like Indian Wells and Miami. Raducanu seemed open to this idea, recognizing that having a trainer during longer events could provide an opportunity to work intensively on her fitness between matches. “I think that certain weeks sporadically travelling with a fitness coach is a great idea,” she noted, suggesting that targeted blocks of physical training could help address her stamina issues.
### A Challenging Start to 2024
The physical setbacks have not been the only obstacles Raducanu has faced in 2024. In her match against Yafan Wang, she battled what appeared to be a gastric issue, which left her retching during the third set. Additionally, technical flaws in her game, including frequent unforced errors on her forehand, were a factor in the loss. Despite these difficulties, Raducanu remains optimistic. Her return to the 1573 Arena in Melbourne, where she won a first-round match in the previous year’s Australian Open, was a poignant moment. The warm support from the crowd, many of whom were British expats, lifted her spirits, even if the result was not what she had hoped for. “It’s pretty surreal,” she said, reflecting on the encouragement she received. “I really missed that feeling… it’s not about saying goodbye, it’s about moving forward and seeing them all again.”
### Building a New Team and a New Path Forward
An important element of Raducanu’s plan for resurgence involves the team around her. She continues to work with Nick Cavaday, a coach she first met as a child at Bromley Tennis Academy. Despite the challenges she’s faced in recent months, Raducanu expressed confidence in the progress they’ve made together, particularly after coming back from an off-season break. The decision to potentially add a travelling fitness coach to her team suggests a recognition that physical endurance will be crucial if she is to regain her top form.
While the road ahead may seem daunting, Raducanu’s determination to adjust her schedule, tackle lower-level tournaments, and refine her game speaks to her resilience and long-term vision. She understands that quick fixes are unlikely to yield sustainable success, and her willingness to adapt, despite the challenges of dropping down to the ITF circuit, reflects a mature perspective on what it takes to compete at the highest level. For now, the tennis world will be watching to see how she navigates this next phase of her career, with the hope that the young Briton can recapture the magic that made her a Grand Slam champion just a few years ago.