"She's moving in the right direction" - Overend, Henman and Robson predict fulfilling 2026 for Raducanu

Emma Raducanu has not had the smoothest of times since winning the US Open as an 18-year-old. Injuries and inconsistent form on court have plagued her progress. Nevertheless, an uplifting 2025 has propelled her into a positive vein of form.

Now reinstated as the number one Brit, Raducanu is climbing up the rankings. She was on the cusp of being a seed for the US Open but just missed out. However, with the Australian Open ready to commence in less than two months, she is sitting 29th in the world.

Consistent form on the court and a new flourishing partnership with Rafael Nadal's former coach Francisco Roig looks to be doing the trick for Raducanu. Adding to that, her injury woes seem to have been overturned. She spent months on the sidelines, having had surgery on both wrists and ankle in May 2023. She has since comeback and risen from outside the top 100 to be among the best players in the world once more. The 23-year-old will be looking to reach and surpass the career-high 10 ranking she clambered to back in July 2022.

Commentator Jonathan Overend highlighted what Raducanu has been through in recent times, and how significant her rise has been. "I hope she's really positive about it because this has been a real year of progress for Emma Raducanu in the real hope of where she will one day be again," he stated. "Let's just imagine she never won that US Open, she started end of 2023 outside the Top 300 having had double wrist surgery."

He was full of optimism that Raducanu was getting back to her best. "Now she's in and around the Top 30, Grand Slam seeding with the potential to go even higher. That in anyone's book is exceptional progress over two seasons. I think the progress she has made has been magnificent."

Former British number one Tim Henman agreed with his colleague, pinpointing the partnership with Roig. "She's moving in the right direction and I think we all would have agreed in the past she needs consistency and continuity," Henman said. "Having Francisco Roig in her corner. They have really looked like building a good partnership and I'm excited that is continuing through into 2026. He has huge experience."

Laura Robson touched on the pressure Raducanu must feel with the US Open title looming over her head. The Olympic silver medallist is glad to see Raducanu back enjoying her time on court. "I can't imagine how much pressure it felt like for a while there with everyone expecting you to have the same kind of results," Robson admitted. "It's very, very difficult to back it up when you're healthy, let alone somebody who's coming back from injury woes. It's something that we saw at the US Open. It feels like she's a bit more relaxed. She played a bit of golf in New York and just enjoying her time on the court, which is by far the most important thing. You forget how young she is."

Raducanu ended her season after a disappoint defeat in the opening round of the Ningbo Open due to physical struggles. She is set to rest and reset ahead of a promising campaign. She will begin it by making her debut alongside Jack Draper in the United Cup ahead of the Australian Open. The Brit lost all four Grand Slam events last year against either Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek or Elena Rybakina. She will be hoping her seed will prevent her from meeting any of these top players until deeper into the event, as she looks to start her year with a bang Down Under.