Back in the Top 50: Emma Raducanu achieves her highest ranking in three years

Saturday, 29 March 2025 at 00:45

Emma Raducanu guaranteed her return to the top 50 after a strong performance at the Miami Open. The 2021 US Open champion reached the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 for the first time and secured her first win against a top-10 player on hard courts, after defeating Emma Navarro along the way.

The Brit secured five consecutive wins: Sayaka Ishii (6-2, 6-1), 8th seed Emma Navarro (7-6, 2-6, 7-6), McCartney Kessler (6-1, 3-0, ret.), and 17th seed Amanda Anisimova (6-1, 6-3). Raducanu faced world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals – who was already through to the final of the tournament – and was defeated 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 by the American.

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Nonetheless, Raducanu guaranteed 215 points, a solid total that allows her to move up 12 positions in the WTA ranking. The former world No. 10 had not achieved four consecutive wins since her title at Flushing Meadows [where she won 10 consecutive matches, from qualifying to the final against Leylah Fernandez].

With her surprising performance in Miami, Raducanu reached world No. 48. The last time she was that high in the rankings was back in August 2022 (No. 11), but after losing points from the US Open a year later, she fell out of the top 80.

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Looking ahead to the clay swing, Raducanu seems well-positioned to continue adding points and climbing the rankings. In 2024, she played the WTA 500 Stuttgart Open, earning 108 points, and then lost in the first round of the Madrid Open, leaving without any points. An injury forced her to miss a couple of months, missing tournaments like the Rome Open and Roland Garros.

With few points to defend and several major tournaments ahead, Raducanu seems to be in her best form since winning the US Open. Raducanu had a slow 2024 with few tournaments and a shaky start to 2025 – prior to the Miami Open, she had one win in her last seven matches. However, Miami proved to be the perfect stage for her to achieve big results again, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Brit continue to rise in the rankings.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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