Emma Raducanu announces 2027 return date as latest spell on sidelines set to end

Emma Raducanu has been missing from action for a lengthy period of time now. The former US Open champion's battle with injuries has taken a nasty turn with her 2026 season ending abruptly early. After dropping outside the top 100, she will commence her quest to find her best form once more with a return to the United Cup on the cards.

The Brit's 2026 season has had its positives, specifically reaching two WTA finals, but the lows have seen her fall away from the top 32 and far down the order. Now the British No.5, she has been surpassed by Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones.

This was mostly due to a stress fracture picked up after reaching the final of Queen's Club Championships, losing out to Donna Vekic in the final. However, the injury was serious enough to keep her out of the rest of the tournaments on home soil, along with events in North America and Asia.

Her absence from the sport has dragged on for some time now, and it is not the most uncommon thing for the 23-year-old. Numerous months in her WTA career have been on the sidelines, never being able to kick on after that incredible Grand Slam triumph back in 2021 where she announced herself onto the big stage as an 18-year-old.

Another fresh start is on the cards. Alongside Andrew Richardson once more, Raducanu will hope to kick on and reignite that spark on the court. If there is any arena to do that, representing your country is the perfect occasion for it.

She is one of the top names set to compete at the 2027 United Cup, which takes place in Perth and Sydney between the 1-10 January. It is likely that she will be partnered with Arthur Fery and doubles specialist Neal Skupski also featuring in a solid lineup that could cause a surprise result Down Under.

Raducanu is not the only recognisable player to confirm her spot in the team event. Reigning champions Poland still have Hubert Hurkacz to call upon, but Maja Chwalinska will step in for Iga Swaitek. Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff will team up for the USA once more with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Victoria Mboko, Holger Rune and Flavio Cobolli all set to participate with the full lineups to be confirmed soon.

Just 21 matches had been completed, starting at the 2026 United Cup where she was forced to pull out of her opening match as she continued to recover from a separate injury concern before being stunned in the quarter-finals of the Hobart International against Taylah Preston. An early Australian Open exit was culminated with Francisco Roig leaving her side as the quest to find a long-term coach prolonged.

She bounced back with a bang, reaching only a second WTA final at the Transylvania Open but winning only two games against Sorana Cirstea. Illness would prove costly, with a virus preventing Raducanu from finding her best form. She featured in the opening three WTA 1000 events but won just a solitary match.

She returned at the end of the clay swing, but opening round defeats in Strasbourg and Roland Garros were with the caveat that those were her first matches on the surface in the season, combined with the bemusing Rome withdrawal.

Raducanu reminded everyone about her form on grass. She had a lot of time to prepare for the grass swing on home soil and starred at Queen's. Cirseta and Iva Jovic were among the victims, as she reached the final without dropping a set but missed out on silverware against lucky loser Vekic.

That was the final time she appeared on court. Ahead of Wimbledon, she was seen with a protective boot, and that was a cause for concern. The injury was a lot more serious than many tennis fans first anticipated, but finally a date and tournament have been confirmed for her return to the WTA Tour.