Emma Raducanu has recorded an indifferent start to her 2026 WTA season so far.
The Briton kicked her campaign off at the United Cup, where she played just one match, losing against Maria Sakkari.
Following a quarterfinal exit at the Hobart International, Raducanu made her first Grand Slam appearance of the year at the Australian Open, but the run was short-lived.
She crashed out in the second round, losing to Anastasia Potapova, before parting ways with coach Francis Roig after six months working with the Spaniard.
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Now, she will set her sights on the first WTA 1000 event of the season in Qatar, where she has just been handed a tough draw.
Emma Raducanu’s tough draw at the Qatar Open
Raducanu will likely have a comfortable opening clash at the Qatar Open, with the world number 30 set to face a qualifier first.
She has enjoyed a strong record against qualifiers over the past year, holding a 7-0 record against them since the beginning of 2025, according to Tennis Abstract.
After that, however, things get rather difficult for Raducanu, who finds herself in the same quarter of the draw as Coco Gauff, Leylah Fernandez and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
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Should Raducanu make it to the semifinals, she could be faced with Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, who looked unstoppable Down Under.
Iga Swiatek is seeded first at the Qatar Open, with Amanda Anisimova the main threat in the Pole’s half of the draw.
Emma Raducanu’s Middle East swing in 2025
Raducanu played three tournaments during the Middle East swing in 2025 after her third-round exit at last year’s Australian Open.
The former US Open champion entered the Abu Dhabi Open, but was knocked out in the opening round with a defeat to Marketa Vondrousova.
Her campaign in Doha last season also ended abruptly, with Raducanu losing to Alexandrova in round one.
Raducanu finally got back in the win column at the Dubai Tennis Championships, beating Sakkari, but she fell to Karolina Muchova in the next round.
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