Raducanu could be at least British Number Four after Nottingham Open as ranking slide continues

While Emma Raducanu's decline in WTA Rankings comes from a multitude of factors none more so than her injury, she could go from British Number One last week to British Number Four after the Nottingham Open at least.

Raducanu was overtaken in this week's WTA Rankings by Katie Boulter who has been as high as 82nd in the world before.

The former US Open champion is down to 128th in the world after previously being a best of World Number 10. She also will not play Wimbledon meaning her steep decline will continue indefinitely.

This while having three surgeries including on her wrists with likely a hope of a return at the US Open. Albeit one where she will have to rely on her star power for wildcards and using a protected ranking.

This week sees the Nottingham Open in the East Midlands city as the first British grass court main WTA tournament of the season.

Among those involved are Boulter as well as rising stars Jodie Burrage and Katie Swan with Burrage in particular tipped to take the British Number One spot before Boulter did.

All three will play in Nottingham. Raducanu currently sits at 548 points going down 21 spots in the past week with 71 points lost. Jodie Burrage herself went down 20 spots but is close to overtaking Raducanu.

As is Swan with a few wins herself doing the reverse going up 28 spots after losing in the final of Surbiton. A player on form and one to watch potentially for a Wimbledon wildcard.

Even further back, former fellow highly thought of Brit, Harriet Dart herself sits in 143rd on 484 points and also plays Nottingham so the likelihood of Raducanu even remaining in the top five Brits is alarming.

With many of these players receiving wildcards into Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne, Raducanu's could go from British Number One to not even being in the conversation very quickly.