After disappointing show in Madrid, former world number one overtakes Emma Raducanu in WTA rankings

Britain’s Emma Raducanu has been overtaken by a former world number one in the WTA updated rankings. The 22-year-old, who was once regarded as the one for the future after winning the US Open at the age of just 2021, is going through a disappointing campaign.

Raducanu has played in eight different events this year but has only managed to cement a spot in the quarterfinal or beyond on one occasion. Her best outing this season came at the Miami Open, where she was knocked out after losing in the quarterfinal to America’s Jessica Pegula with a score of 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.

Her most recent appearance was at the Madrid Open where she was knocked out after losing in the round of 64 to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Those performances meant that the British tennis star has failed to improve on her standings in the WTA rankings and is now being overtaken by the former world number one Japan’s Naomi Osaka. She stays at number 49 in the WTA rankings with 1139 rating points.

On the other hand, Osaka, who has seen her struggles in the recent past as well, has jumped seven ranks in the WTA rankings and is now placed in the 48th spot with 1148 rating points. She managed to improve her rankings after lifting the WTA 125 event in Saint Malo, where she defeated Kaja Juvan in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 7-5. It was her first title in four years. The four-time Grand Slam winner was ecstatic to win her first title on a clay court and expressed her feelings in a post on the social media platform X—previously known as Twitter.

“Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst,” she wrote. “That’s one of my favourite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve. Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey, I know it’s turbulent but it’s also really fun and I’m grateful.”