Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation who stunned the world with her 2021 US Open triumph, is on the cusp of something special in 2025. At 22, she’s weathered a storm of injuries, coaching changes, and inconsistent results since that fairy-tale run in New York, but a glimmer of her former brilliance is starting to shine through. A former Wimbledon champion recently weighed in, declaring that Raducanu is “very close” to rediscovering the peak form that made her a global star. Meanwhile, a respected voice in British tennis has pinpointed a specific moment—a gritty victory in Miami—as the “turning point” that could propel her back to the top. As the clay season looms, Raducanu’s resurgence is becoming the talk of the tennis world.
The journey hasn’t been easy. After her historic US Open win at 18—becoming the first qualifier ever to claim a Grand Slam title—Raducanu’s career hit turbulence. Wrist surgeries, a foot injury, and a revolving door of coaches left her ranked as low as No. 303 last year. But 2025 has brought signs of renewal. She kicked off the year at the Australian Open, battling to the third round before falling to Iga Swiatek, the world number two. A string of early exits followed—Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Indian Wells—casting doubts on her momentum. Then came Miami, where everything seemed to click. “It’s been great that she’s competed a lot more this year after Australia,” a former British No. 4 observed, noting her packed schedule. “She’s played three or four tournaments, but the results haven’t been there—until now.”
That turning point arrived in the second round of the Miami Open against Emma Navarro, the world No. 10. Raducanu, ranked No. 48 at the time, summoned a ferocity that echoed her US Open heroics. “The Navarro match was the moment,” the ex-pro said, highlighting how she outlasted a top-tier opponent in a dramatic three-setter. With a ripping forehand winner on her second match point, she sealed the victory, breaking into a beaming smile that betrayed both shock and relief. It was her third career win over a top-10 player—and her first on hard courts—propelling her into the fourth round and eventually the quarterfinals, her deepest run at a WTA 1000 event. “Her movement, both offensively and defensively, looked fantastic,” the pundit added, crediting her gym work with a new fitness trainer for the uptick in physicality.
A Wimbledon winner from 2013 sees even bigger things ahead. “She’s very close to the level she produced during her 2021 US Open title run,” the former champion remarked, pointing to Raducanu’s improved physicality as a game-changer. That US Open magic saw her win 10 straight matches without dropping a set, a feat that announced her as a generational talent. Now, with her body holding up and confidence surging, she’s rounding into form just as the clay season beckons. “You may be surprised by this, but I also genuinely think Raducanu is one of the best volleyers in the game,” the ex-Wimbledon star added, spotlighting an underrated weapon that could prove lethal on slower surfaces like Roland Garros.
Miami wasn’t just a fluke—it was a statement. Raducanu toppled two top-20 players en route to the quarters, only falling to Jessica Pegula in a grueling 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 battle. She struggled with the humidity and called a medical timeout late in the second set, but her fight was undeniable. “The defeat wraps up a promising tournament where she’s arguably played the best tennis of her career outside of that US Open triumph,” one observer noted. Now ranked in the top 50 for the first time since 2022, she’s got a puncher’s chance to climb 16 spots and snag a Wimbledon seed—a tantalizing prospect for her home Grand Slam.
Off the court, Raducanu’s life has been a whirlwind. A terrifying stalker incident in Dubai earlier this year left her in tears mid-match, but she’s bounced back with resilience. With familiar faces like childhood friend Jane O’Donoghue and broadcaster Mark Petchey in her coaching box in Miami, she’s found stability amid the chaos. “She’s starting to better understand how to unlock her top level,” a commentator reflected, praising her newfound freedom on the court. As she eyes Monte-Carlo and the French Open, Raducanu’s fans are dreaming big—could this be the year she reclaims her place among the elite? With a turning point behind her and her best self within reach, the tennis world is watching, captivated by a star who’s ready to rise again.
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