Emma Raducanu has admitted she feels like “everything is a win” as the Brit looks primed to surge up the WTA Rankings throughout the rest of 2024.
Former US Open champion Raducanu has been in resurgent form in recent weeks, impressive in her opening clay court matches in the Billie Jean King Cup and at the Women’s Stuttgart Open.
The optimism around the 21-year-old is of stark contrast to 12 months ago, when she withdrew from Madrid on-site – and ultimately did not play again due to wrist surgery.
Her last match of 2023 came in an opening round loss to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart, and a run to the quarter-final this year saw her rise over 80 places to world No 221.
Though that is still lower than it needs to be to automatically qualify for most WTA events, Raducanu has the luxury of having no points to defend for the rest 2024 – meaning a rankings surge is likely imminent.
And, as she returns to a tournament she reached the third round at two years ago, the Brit is feeling ready to capitalise on her lack of rankings pressure,
“The altitude here, it doesn’t catch you as off guard,” said Raducanu, speaking to Sky Sports about her return to the Spanish capital.
“It’s always going to be different, but at least you can expect it and you know where things are, which always helps – you know where the stringer is, the gym is, everything, where to find the food. That’s where it does come in handy, but I think I’m just trying to freshen up physically as much as possible.
“This was the last place I came to last year before surgery and I pulled out on site, and then I had surgery and missed the next eight months.
“For me, it’s like now I have zero to defend for the rest of the year, so everything is a gain, everything is a win. Thinking how far I came since last year is a great thing.”
Raducanu’s time in Madrid last year was one of the lowest points in her career, famously enduring a tense press conference – where she said just 58 words in response to 16 questions – before her eventual withdrawal.
And she admits that a year one, she is feeling more optimistic physically and mentally.
She added: “I was thinking about my last interview in Madrid and it was 16 words [sic], so I think I’ve come on a lot since then.
“Obviously I had a lot going on, I knew I was going to have to have surgery, but I didn’t want to say anything about it.
“Coming here I feel a lot better, I’m in a lot better place with my tennis, mentally I feel really confident and I’m just looking forward for the rest of the clay season to be honest.”