Emma Raducanu Faces Challenging Start to 2025 Amid Ranking Slide
Emma Raducanu’s struggles in the early months of 2025 are reflected in her current standing on the WTA Race list. While the 2021 US Open champion holds the No. 55 spot in the official WTA Rankings, she has dropped to No. 60 in the latest update.
Her recent ranking decline follows a disappointing third-round exit at the Indian Wells WTA 1000 event, where she lost 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima. Having reached the same stage last year, Raducanu lost valuable ranking points, further contributing to her slide.
However, the British No. 2 now has an opportunity to regain ground at the Miami Open, a tournament she missed last year due to injury. The upcoming European clay-court season will also provide her with chances to climb the rankings, as she opted out of French Open qualifying in 2024 to focus on grass-court preparations.
Struggles on Court and in the Rankings
Raducanu’s form in 2025 has been inconsistent, winning just three of her nine matches so far. This slump is evident in the WTA Race standings, which track performances solely from the current season. She currently sits at No. 72 and will need a strong run to avoid falling further behind.
Much of her current WTA ranking stability stems from her impressive 2024 grass-court campaign. She earned 446 points during that stretch, reaching the Nottingham Open semi-finals, securing key victories in Eastbourne, and making the fourth round at Wimbledon. With over 1,000 ranking points to her name, she faces mounting pressure to deliver results before those points begin to drop off.
New Coaching Setup and Future Hopes
Raducanu’s recent struggles coincide with the departure of former coach Nick Cavaday, who stepped down after the Australian Open for health reasons. Since then, she has won just one match, but she remains optimistic after beginning work with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik during Indian Wells.
“It’s great to have someone experienced in my corner, and we’ll see how things progress both on and off the court,” Raducanu said. “I need to keep moving forward, focusing on each step rather than looking back too much.”
Acknowledging areas for improvement, she added: “I need to start points better, be more aggressive, and improve my shot quality going forward. Honestly, after today’s performance, I think I need to improve every area of my game.”
Finding Stability Amid the Challenges
Respected tennis broadcaster Marcus Buckland weighed in on Raducanu’s current trajectory, stressing the importance of long-term coaching stability.
“Raducanu needs a coach she can build a meaningful relationship with over a couple of years,” Buckland told Tennis365. “She has to establish consistency on court and build momentum, but just as crucially, she needs a strong support team off the court to help her navigate the challenges she faces.”
Reflecting on her career since her historic US Open triumph, Buckland highlighted the mental hurdles she still needs to overcome.
“She’s had such a roller-coaster journey. She has the game to compete with the best, but does she truly believe that? Until she starts beating top players consistently, those doubts will remain, and she may start questioning why she’s putting herself through it.”
As Raducanu heads into the Miami Open, the next few months will be pivotal in determining whether she can turn her season around and re-establish herself as a top contender on the WTA Tour.
