After a strong showing at the Miami Open, Emma Raducanu is poised to continue her climb up the WTA rankings as the clay court season begins.
The 22-year-old Brit reached the quarterfinals in Miami — her best run since her 2021 US Open title — and jumped from No. 60 to No. 47 in the rankings. Despite her momentum, Raducanu chose to delay her clay debut, withdrawing from both Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and the WTA 250 in Rouen.
Her first tournament on clay this season is expected to be the Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event running from April 22 to May 4.
A Look Back: Raducanu on Clay in 2024
Last year, Raducanu had a limited but promising clay court run. She compiled a 4–2 record, with notable victories over Diane Parry and Caroline Garcia during Great Britain’s win over France in the BJK Cup. At the Stuttgart Open, she defeated Angelique Kerber and Linda Noskova before falling to Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. However, her momentum was short-lived, as she exited early in Madrid, losing in the first round to Maria Lourdes Carlé. She skipped the rest of the clay season, focusing on grass.
Minimal Points to Defend, Major Opportunity Ahead
With just 118 ranking points to defend during the 2025 clay swing — 108 from Stuttgart and 10 from Madrid — Raducanu is in a prime position to move up the rankings. She did not compete in Rome or the French Open in 2024, leaving the door wide open for points accumulation.
If she performs well in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, Raducanu could make a significant rankings leap. She may also consider playing additional events such as the WTA 500 in Strasbourg or the WTA 250 in Rabat in the week leading up to the French Open.
