Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and current British No. 1, faces a challenging path at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, prompting a stark prediction from former world No. 1 Andy Roddick. Drawn against 17-year-old British wildcard Mingge “Mimi” Xu in the first round, Raducanu, ranked world No. 38, narrowly missed a seeding. While she is expected to navigate this all-British opener, Roddick believes her journey will likely end in the second round against 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. On his *Served* podcast on June 28, 2025, Roddick stated, “I have (Marketa) Vondrousova, (Aryna) Sabalenka in the third round,” predicting Vondrousova’s victory over Raducanu due to the Czech’s recent grass-court title in Berlin and her proven prowess on the surface. Tennis insider Jon Wertheim echoed this sentiment, suggesting Raducanu stands little chance against the former champion.[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-emma-raducanus-brutal-wimbledon-draw-triggers-bold-roddick-verdict-on-forgotten-champ/)
Raducanu’s 2025 season has been inconsistent, marred by injuries and early exits. After a third-round loss at the Australian Open and a quarterfinal run at the Miami Open, her grass-court preparations were disrupted by a back injury, leading to a medical timeout during a quarterfinal loss to Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s Club and a second-round defeat to Maya Joint at Eastbourne. Roddick described her draw as “brutal,” noting the difficulty of facing a former champion like Vondrousova so early, especially given Raducanu’s struggles to regain her 2021 form.[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-emma-raducanus-brutal-wimbledon-draw-triggers-bold-roddick-verdict-on-forgotten-champ/)[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-andy-roddick-says-surprised-emma-raducanu-s-injury-withdrawal-ahead-wimbledon-here-s)[](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/emma-raducanu-british-wimbledon-eastbourne-harriet-dart-b2776099.html)
However, former WTA star Olga Morozova, a Wimbledon finalist, offered a more optimistic view. She praised Raducanu’s aggressive play and net approaches, suggesting her improved ranking (from No. 60 to No. 38) and determination post-injury could make her a dark horse. Morozova told *Metro* on June 27, 2025, “She’s playing much better now… She has the ability to beat anyone because she won the US Open.”[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-emma-raducanus-brutal-wimbledon-draw-triggers-bold-roddick-verdict-on-forgotten-champ/)
Raducanu’s Wimbledon history shows promise—she reached the fourth round in 2021 and 2024—but her path forward is daunting. A potential third-round clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka looms if she advances past Vondrousova or 32nd seed McCartney Kessler. Roddick’s skepticism reflects Raducanu’s injury-plagued season and tough draw, while Morozova’s encouragement highlights her potential to upset expectations. Her match against Xu, a talented teenager who has already beaten two top-100 players on grass this summer, will test her resilience as she aims to defy the odds at the All England Club. (Word count: 366)[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-emma-raducanus-brutal-wimbledon-draw-triggers-bold-roddick-verdict-on-forgotten-champ/)[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cm204kek8kmo)[](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/27/wimbledon-2025-draw-emma-raducanu-jack-draper-tennis)
