Emma Raducanu faces the possibility of needing another wildcard to enter the main draw of her next WTA Tour event, but her recent comments suggest she might be considering a break in the near future.
In a bid to gain more match play early in the season, Raducanu added the Singapore Tennis Open to her schedule after the Australian Open, alongside a return to Abu Dhabi. However, her efforts fell short, as she was knocked out in the first round of both tournaments. In Singapore, she was defeated in a three-set battle by Cristina Busca, and in Abu Dhabi, she succumbed to Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets.
At 22 years old, Raducanu had initially planned to compete in the qualifiers in Abu Dhabi, marking her first qualifying event since the 2021 US Open. However, her wildcard was later upgraded to the main draw. Unfortunately, she delivered an inconsistent performance, committing a staggering 32 unforced errors in her loss to Vondrousova, and appeared to struggle physically, frequently adjusting her neck during the 6-3, 6-4 defeat.
The upcoming Qatar Open and Dubai Tennis Championships are next on the WTA calendar, but Raducanu’s current ranking – just outside the top 50 – does not grant her direct entry into these prestigious events. Wildcards for both tournaments are yet to be confirmed, and if she doesn’t receive one, her only remaining option would be to compete in the qualifiers.
However, in a recent interview with The National, Raducanu revealed that her immediate plans are still uncertain. “I have no idea. I’m going to take it week by week. See how I am, see how the body is and see what kind of plan we put in place, I guess,” she said. “But I’m not thinking too far ahead, just trying to take it day by day in the current situations.”
If Raducanu decides to skip the upcoming WTA 1000 events in the Middle East, she may make her next appearance at the Sunshine Double, with the Indian Wells Open running from March 5-16, followed by the Miami Open from March 18-30.
Former player and tennis pundit Laura Robson believes Raducanu could benefit from as much match experience as possible, suggesting that a month-long break may not be the ideal path for her return to form. “I love the fact that she went to Singapore in the first place, to get some more matches in,” Robson shared with Sky Sports Tennis. “Obviously, that didn’t go as well as she’d hoped, but then to play the week after is exactly what she’s been trying to do for the last year.”
Robson emphasized that Raducanu’s decision to push forward with consecutive tournaments was a positive one. “It’s a great decision and hopefully she’ll be able to build on that – and by the time the WTA 1000 events at Indian Wells and Miami come around, she’ll have a solid foundation to work with.”