"I love seeing Emma back": Mats Wilander backs Emma Raducanu to become world's 'best player' after impressive Australian Open first round win

Former world number one Mats Wilander believes Britain’s young tennis star Emma Raducanu can become ‘one of the best’ player in the world after starting the 2025 Australian Open on a high. The 22-year-old was once regarded as the next big thing, especially after winning the US Open at the age of just 18.

The most impressive aspect of that triumph was the fact that Raducanu started the competition through the qualifying stage and still managed to go all the way and secure the title after getting the better of Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Since then, however, not much has gone right for Raducanu, largely because of fitness concerns. She returned to the court last year, but the results were far from satisfactory. Raducanu started the 2025 season in some style on Tuesday, where she defeated world number 26 Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-6. That win helped Raducanu equalled her best performance in the Australian Open, and she will now be hoping to go at least one step further this time.

Former world number one Wilander has been recently quoted in a Eurosport report in which he heaped praise on Raducanu after her impressive performance in Melbourne. The 60-year-old was of the opinion that if the one-time Grand Slam winner managed to stay healthy, she had all the ability to become one of the best players in the world.

"That’s a tough match, but this was a tough match as well," said Wilander about Raducanu’s first two opponents who will next face America’s Amanda Anisimova in the next round. "Alexandrova is a good player and you have to play well. I’m very impressed with Emma. Every time I see her, there is no question in my mind that she can become one of the best players in the world if she stays healthy long enough. Anisimova hits the ball very, very, very hard. It’s going to be a tough match, but I love seeing Emma back."