Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation and former US Open champion, appears poised to dive into the clay-court season with renewed vigor following a brief hiatus from the sport. After an impressive run to the quarter-finals at the Miami Open in March 2025, the 22-year-old opted for a short break to recharge, pulling out of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup ties in the Netherlands and the WTA 250 event in Rouen, France. However, her time away from the court looks set to be fleeting, as plans for her clay-court campaign are beginning to take shape, with the tennis world buzzing about her potential participation in two prestigious WTA 1000 tournaments.
Raducanu’s decision to step back came after a grueling stretch of competitive play in Miami, where she showcased some of the best tennis of her career since her stunning 2021 US Open triumph. The young star explained her choice to prioritize recovery, saying, “I just need to take a beat and kind of reevaluate what I’m doing.” Her withdrawal from the Billie Jean King Cup and Rouen sparked speculation about her next moves, but it now seems she’s gearing up for a significant return on the red dirt, a surface where she’s historically had less experience but plenty of untapped potential.
The clay-court season is a critical juncture in the tennis calendar, and for Raducanu, it could mark a turning point in her 2025 campaign. Word on the street is that she’s eyeing the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, two of the most high-profile tournaments on the clay swing. The Mutua Madrid Open, slated to kick off on April 21, offers Raducanu a chance to test her mettle against the world’s elite, while the Italian Open in Rome, starting shortly after, could solidify her standing as she builds toward the French Open at Roland Garros in late May. Although her name appears on the entry lists for both events, there’s a whisper of caution—she could still opt to pull out if she feels her body or game need more time to prepare.
Raducanu’s limited clay-court experience makes her upcoming schedule all the more intriguing. Last year, she turned heads with strong performances on the surface while representing Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup in France, proving she can adapt to the slower, more demanding conditions. “I’m walking onto the court knowing that I’m going to be there for every point, every ball,” she said during her Miami run, a mindset that could serve her well on clay, where endurance and consistency often trump raw power. With only 108 ranking points to defend during this season—thanks to her absence from the 2024 French Open—she has a golden opportunity to climb the WTA rankings if she can string together some wins.
The tennis community is abuzz with optimism about her prospects. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman has thrown his support behind her recent scheduling decisions, noting that her active 2025 calendar—contrasting with criticism of her lighter 2024 slate—shows she’s finding her rhythm. “The four wins she had [in Miami] will give her a lot of belief moving forward,” Henman remarked, highlighting her resilience in overcoming top-10 player Emma Navarro in a thrilling three-setter. That victory, among others, has fueled hopes that Raducanu is rediscovering the fearless, free-spirited form that propelled her to Grand Slam glory as a teenager.
Yet, challenges remain. Raducanu’s coaching situation is still in flux, a recurring subplot in her career narrative. After parting ways with Vladimir Platenik before Miami, she leaned on familiar faces like childhood mentor Jane O’Donoghue and broadcaster-turned-coach Mark Petchey during her Florida success. “This week I have some really good people around me who I trust and who I have fun with off the court as well,” she said, crediting their presence for her on-court freedom. Rumors suggest Petchey might stick around for the clay and grass seasons, offering stability as she navigates the tricky transition to clay.
As the clay season unfolds, all eyes will be on Raducanu to see if she can translate her hard-court momentum into success on the red dirt. Madrid and Rome could be proving grounds, setting the stage for a potential deep run at Roland Garros. With her ranking on the rise—jumping 12 spots to the mid-40s after Miami—and a game that’s starting to click, the British star is poised to make waves. Whether she emerges as a clay-court contender or takes a more measured approach, one thing is clear: Emma Raducanu’s next chapter is shaping up to be a compelling one.