WILDCARD GALORE!: Emma Raducanu’s next WTA event confirmed and her long-term mentor will be by her side
Emma Raducanu Accepts Wildcard for Dubai in Bid to Regain Winning Form
Emma Raducanu has accepted another wildcard as she looks to bounce back at the Dubai Tennis Championships next week.
The world No. 60 is aiming to end a tough run of form, having suffered four consecutive defeats. She fell in the first round of the Singapore Tennis Open, followed by early exits in both Abu Dhabi and Qatar, in addition to her third-round loss at the Australian Open.
Her last victory came on January 16, when she defeated Amanda Anisimova in straight sets at Melbourne Park. So far in 2025, Raducanu holds a 2-4 record, with her only other win coming against Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Australian Open.
A Different Approach to a Slump
Unlike previous seasons, where she has taken time off to regroup after a dip in form, Raducanu has chosen to stay in the Middle East and compete at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai.
This will mark her third consecutive tournament where she has entered the main draw via a wildcard—bringing her total to 13 wildcards in her last 18 events.
Raducanu will be hoping for a kinder draw in Dubai after facing tough early opponents in recent weeks. She lost to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in Abu Dhabi, followed by a straight-sets defeat to world No. 26 Alexandrova in Doha.
However, the Dubai field remains highly competitive, featuring top-ranked players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula, and Elena Rybakina.
Coaching Boost for Raducanu
There is some positive news on the coaching front, as long-term mentor Jane O’Donoghue will once again accompany her in Dubai.
Raducanu has been without a head coach since Nick Cavaday stepped down after the Australian Open due to health reasons. In Singapore, she was supported only by her mother and fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura.
In Abu Dhabi, youth coach Roman Kelecic briefly assisted her before O’Donoghue joined the team in Doha, though Raducanu still suffered a 6-3, 7-5 defeat to Alexandrova.
O’Donoghue, a former national coach for the Lawn Tennis Association (2009-2019), has stepped in on several occasions, including Wimbledon 2022, Nottingham 2023, and the start of the 2024 season.
As Raducanu continues to rebuild her form, she will be hoping that familiar coaching support and a deep run in Dubai can help turn her season around.
