The crucial thing that Emma Raducanu needs to make a priority before the US Open this year

Follow us on Google Discover

Emma Raducanu is at an interesting juncture in her career ahead of the US Open this year.

Raducanu won the US Open in 2021, stunning the world after becoming the first qualifier to win a major title.

The Briton has dealt with many different injury concerns since then, which included Raducanu having a back problem ahead of Wimbledon.

However, Raducanu reached the third round and impressed in her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka and appears to be showcasing some more of the tennis that thrust her into the spotlight four years ago.

If Raducanu is to make a deep run at this year’s US Open, she may have to achieve something at the tournaments before then.

Why Emma Raducanu needs to try and become seeded for the US Open

Raducanu is currently the world number 45, having lost 110 ranking points from her fourth round finish at Wimbledon in 2024.

This means that Raducanu is 13 places away from being seeded at Grand Slams, which could be crucial for her chances at a deep run.

Raducanu has been unable to surpass the third round of a major this year, but has only lost to two players.

Those players are Sabalenka and Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, who have a combined total of nine Grand Slam singles titles.

While she was able to put up a very competitive performance against Sabalenka, Raducanu was thrashed by Iga Swiatek on both occasions she has played her this year, winning four games in just two matches against the Pole.

Although there are currently 13 players in the way of Raducanu becoming seeded for the US Open, there is only 211 ranking points separating those players.

Having played only one tournament on North American hard courts before the US Open last year, Raducanu has an opportunity to bridge the gap on some of those around her.

She will begin her bid at the Washington Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year, before she is scheduled to compete at tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati.

There are a total of 2500 points on offer across those three tournaments, giving Raducanu an opportunity to try and become seeded at the US Open once again.

While being seeded does not mean you will not play the likes of Sabalenka and Swiatek altogether, it does mean that you will be guaranteed to avoid them until at least the third round.

How has Emma Raducanu performed at the US Open since 2021?

Raducanu had her biggest career success at the US Open in 2021, but since then it has actually been her worst performing Grand Slam tournament.

The now 22-year-old missed the US Open in 2023 after undergoing surgeries to both wrists and her left ankle, but has either won the title or lost in the first round in her three other appearances.

On neither occasion did she play a seed when losing in the first round, but instead an inspired performance from Alize Cornet in 2022 and last year Raducanu was beaten by Sofia Kenin, who is a Grand Slam champion in her own right.

Raducanu will be hoping that she can produce the sort of tennis she showcased at Wimbledon this year on the North American hard courts, where she will begin at the Washington Open.

The Washington Open gets underway on Monday, July 21, and also features the likes of Jessica Pegula, Qinwen Zheng, Amanda Anisimova and the returning 45-year-old Venus Williams.