Emma Raducanu is gearing up for her clay court campaign in 2025, and with momentum building, she may soon find herself seeded at Wimbledon — and potentially even at the French Open.
The 2021 US Open champion is expected to return to action at the Madrid Open later this month, possibly with a familiar face in her corner. Former coach and respected tennis analyst Mark Petchey, who briefly worked with Raducanu before her US Open triumph, is reportedly considering rejoining her team. He most recently supported her at the Miami Open following her split with Vlado Platenik.
Petchey’s short stint already showed signs of promise. Raducanu displayed her best form since her breakthrough Grand Slam win, reaching the Miami quarter-finals with impressive victories over top-10 star Emma Navarro and WTA 1000 winner Amanda Anisimova.
Now, the stage is set for Raducanu to make a meaningful leap up the WTA Rankings.
Ranking Opportunities on Clay
Raducanu enters the clay season with just 10 ranking points to defend — a rarity that gives her significant room for upward movement. With the Madrid Open, Italian Open, and Roland Garros all on the horizon, she has access to a potential 4,000 points.
Having missed last year’s French Open, any wins at Roland Garros will be added to her current total without deductions. A seeded position at the French Open would require her to break into the WTA top 32, and a few wins in Madrid and Rome could bring her close.
Two victories in Madrid could push her towards the top 40. Add two more in Rome, and she’d be in striking distance of that top-32 threshold. A deeper run — say, three wins in each tournament — could all but secure a seed in Paris.
Still, expectations remain measured when it comes to her clay court prospects. Grass, however, could be a different story.
Wimbledon: A Realistic Target
Should Raducanu gain some traction during the clay season, her chances of being seeded at Wimbledon look far stronger. Her record at the All England Club includes two fourth-round appearances, and she narrowly missed a quarter-final berth in 2024 after a tough loss to Lulu Sun.
With her confidence resurging after a strong Miami campaign and the potential addition of Petchey, Raducanu could be primed to challenge again on her favored surface.
If she can stay healthy and continue to build momentum, Raducanu could silence her critics and reassert herself as a serious contender on the WTA Tour in the second half of 2025.
