mma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and World No. 38, is bracing for a challenging Wimbledon 2025 draw, with the potential to face her nemesis, Iga Swiatek, in the first round and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, as outlined by *Express.co.uk* on June 25, 2025. The draw, set to be finalized on June 27, 2025, could see the unseeded Raducanu, a wildcard, confront Swiatek, the eighth seed, immediately, a daunting prospect given Swiatek’s 5-0 head-to-head dominance, including a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing at the 2025 French Open. Raducanu’s path to a second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, starting June 30, is further complicated by her ongoing back injury and a stacked field.
Raducanu, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2024, has struggled against Swiatek, noting the Pole’s intensity in their matchups. “She’s always fired up when we play,” Raducanu said post-Roland Garros, per *Express.co.uk*. A potential quarterfinal clash with Sabalenka, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, looms if she navigates early rounds, with other top seeds like Jessica Pegula in the semifinals and Coco Gauff in a possible final adding to the nightmare scenario. Sabalenka, coming off a French Open final loss to Gauff, is a favorite alongside 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, per *The Tennis Gazette*. Raducanu’s recent Eastbourne loss to Maya Joint (4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)) and withdrawal from Bad Homburg due to back spasms raise concerns about her fitness.
Despite these challenges, Raducanu remains resilient, telling *The Mirror* on June 25, “I think I will step on the court regardless.” Her grass-court preparation included a Queen’s Club quarterfinal run, but her back, managed with acupuncture and taping, remains a vulnerability. Fans on X, like @DExpress_Sport, have highlighted the tough draw, noting, “Nemesis up first as Aryna Sabalenka awaits.” Raducanu’s 2024 Wimbledon run, where she upset Maria Sakkari before falling to Lulu Sun, shows her potential, but the unseeded status and injury concerns make this a formidable challenge. With home-crowd support, she aims to surpass her best Wimbledon result and defy the odds against tennis’s elite.
