Caroline Wozniacki Backs Emma Raducanu’s Grand Slam Potential Ahead of 2025 French Open

Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has expressed strong confidence in Emma Raducanu’s ability to win another Grand Slam title, emphasizing that the 22-year-old Brit’s historic 2021 US Open triumph proves she can do it again. In an exclusive interview with Tennis365 on May 23, 2025, Wozniacki stated, “She’s proven that she can win the US Open, and if you can do it once, you can do it again. It’s just a matter of putting it together for seven straight matches.” This endorsement comes as Raducanu, now ranked No. 43, prepares for the 2025 French Open, where she faces China’s Wang Xinyu in the first round on May 25, 2025, with a potential second-round clash against five-time Major champion Iga Swiatek looming.

Raducanu’s Historic US Open Triumph

Raducanu’s 2021 US Open victory remains one of the most remarkable feats in tennis history. As an 18-year-old qualifier ranked No. 150, she stormed through three qualifying matches and seven main-draw matches without dropping a set, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final. She became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, the first British woman to win a Major since Virginia Wade in 1977, and the youngest champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004. Her run, which included wins over Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and No. 17 Maria Sakkari, propelled her to No. 23 in the rankings and earned her the 2021 WTA Newcomer of the Year award. The achievement, accomplished in only her second Grand Slam appearance, set a record for the fewest Majors played before winning one in the Open Era.

Challenges Since 2021

Since her fairy-tale US Open win, Raducanu has faced significant hurdles, primarily injuries and inconsistent form. From 2022 to 2024, she won only five Grand Slam matches, with her best results being second-round exits at the 2022 French Open and 2022-2024 Australian Opens, and fourth-round runs at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2024. A wrist and ankle surgery in 2023 sidelined her for eight months, causing her ranking to plummet to No. 186. Her 2024 US Open return ended in a first-round loss to fellow Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin (6-1, 3-6, 6-4), leaving her emotional as she admitted, “I feel down, I feel sad,” and questioning her limited match play beforehand. Her career record against top-10 players stands at 3-9, highlighting the challenge of competing at the elite level consistently.

A Promising 2025 and Clay-Court Resurgence

Raducanu’s 2025 season has shown signs of a revival, particularly on clay, which she described as a surface she’s “building a relationship with.” Despite a tough start—reaching the third round at the Australian Open but losing 6-1, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek, followed by a four-match losing streak in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar—she rebounded at the Miami Open, reaching the quarterfinals, her best WTA 1000 result. Her clay season has been her most successful, with a first-round win over Suzan Lamens in Madrid (6-4, 6-2) and a fourth-round run at the Italian Open, where she defeated Maya Joint, Jil Teichmann, and Veronika Kudermetova before losing to Coco Gauff.

In Strasbourg, Raducanu delivered a standout 6-1, 6-3 victory over former world No. 8 Daria Kasatkina on May 20, 2025, showcasing her aggressive groundstrokes and improved clay movement. Despite a back spasm in her subsequent loss to Danielle Collins (4-6, 6-1, 6-3), her team confirmed she’s fit for Roland Garros. Working with coach Mark Petchey, who previously guided Andy Murray, and renowned physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura, Raducanu has focused on her serve and physical resilience, contributing to her 20-13 record in 2024 and current No. 43 ranking.

Expert and Fan Support

Wozniacki’s optimism is echoed by other tennis voices. Sky Sports Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend, speaking to Tennis365 on February 5, 2025, predicted Raducanu could “get close to winning” a Grand Slam again, stating, “When she is fit and on form, she has that Grand Slam-winning performance in her.” He praised her relaxed demeanor in press conferences, suggesting her mental resilience will serve her well. Former British No. 1 Laura Robson told Sky Sports on August 27, 2024, that Raducanu’s US Open experience gives her an edge, noting, “She’s not going to be seeded and nobody will want to draw her name next to theirs so early on.” Posts on X, such as @tennis365com’s on May 23, 2025, highlight fan excitement for her French Open campaign, with @TennisUpToDate2 noting her “100 per cent committed” mindset.

The Road Ahead at Roland Garros

Raducanu’s French Open opener against Wang Xinyu, ranked No. 42, revisits their 2021 Wimbledon clash, where Wang won 6-3, 6-4 when Raducanu retired due to breathing difficulties. A victory could set up a blockbuster second-round match against Swiatek, against whom Raducanu is 0-2, including a 6-4, 6-4 loss in the 2024 Stuttgart quarterfinals. Her 66% career win rate (116-61) and aggressive style, modeled after idols Li Na and Simona Halep, suit the slower clay, but consistency over seven matches remains her challenge.

Wozniacki’s belief in Raducanu’s ceiling, combined with her recent clay-court progress, positions 2025 as a pivotal year. As Overend noted, “She’s still young… there are not too many young players at the top of the WTA Tour,” suggesting Raducanu has time to contend for years. With the French Open draw testing her early, Raducanu’s ability to channel her 2021 US Open fearlessness will determine if she can silence doubters and fulfill Wozniacki’s prediction of another Major triumph.