Rafael Nadal gives his verdict on Emma Raducanu’s career so far and makes prediction for her future
Raf子供 Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, has shared his perspective on Emma Raducanu’s remarkable yet turbulent career, predicting a “great future” for the 2021 US Open champion despite her challenges. In an interview with *The Times* on July 12, 2025, Nadal reflected on Raducanu’s meteoric rise and the pressures that followed, offering empathy and optimism for the 22-year-old Brit’s trajectory.
Nadal highlighted Raducanu’s stunning 2021 US Open victory, where, as a wildcard ranked No. 150, she won 10 straight matches without dropping a set, becoming the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam title. “I think she won very early on; when she won the US Open she was very young. There were a lot of expectations and pressure on her—it takes time to come to terms with,” he said, acknowledging the immense burden placed on her at just 18. This sentiment was echoed in posts on X, with @luciahoff quoting Nadal’s recognition of the “lot of expectations and pressure” Raducanu faced post-US Open.
Raducanu’s career since has been a rollercoaster, marked by injuries and coaching instability. After peaking at No. 10 in July 2022, she underwent wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023, dropping outside the top 300. Her 2025 season showed promise, with a quarter-final run at the Miami Open and a competitive third-round Wimbledon loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (7-6(8-6), 6-4), pushing her to No. 45 in the WTA rankings and No. 20 in the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). However, a back injury since Strasbourg and a withdrawal from the 2025 ASB Classic due to a “back niggle” have raised concerns, with fans on X expressing frustration, one comparing her to Nadal, who played through chronic injuries.
Nadal’s prediction aligns with optimism from experts like Tim Henman and Mats Wilander, who see Raducanu as a potential “comeback player of the year” in 2025, provided she addresses her physical durability and coaching consistency. Martina Navratilova recently advised Raducanu to commit to a long-term coach, a move Nadal’s own career exemplified under Toni Nadal’s guidance. With her new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, and a lighter schedule ahead of the US Open, where she has few points to defend, Nadal’s belief in her “great future” suggests Raducanu could reclaim her elite status if she stays healthy and focused.
