Emma Raducanu has adjusted her schedule after advancing to the third round of the US Open. The 22-year-old was slated to represent Britain at next week’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but she has withdrawn from the team to participate in a regular WTA Tour event in Seoul instead.
Currently ranked No. 34, Raducanu is eager to capitalize on her form by playing as much as possible on the tour until the season’s end, with the goal of securing a seed for January’s Australian Open.
Retired British star Laura Robson emphasizes that maintaining health will be crucial for Raducanu.
The Brit had a successful North American tour, making it to the semi-finals in Washington and the third rounds of the WTA 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. In the latter tournament, she gave world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka a run for her money in three very close sets before losing.
Raducanu carried her momentum into Flushing Meadows, winning her first two matches in roughly an hour and dropping six games across the first two rounds. However, she was soundly defeated by No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina 6-1 6-2 in the third round.
Despite the one-sided loss, Robson believes the former US Open can glean many positives from her recent run, and should concentrate on staying fit and healthy so she can secure a seed for the 2026 Australian Open.
“Raducanu was up against a very in-form Rybakina. You can come away from that match feeling upbeat about what Emma can improve on to challenge the cleanest hitters. And Rybakina was seeing the ball like a basketball, hitting everything in the sweet spot,” the former British No. 1 wrote in her Sky Sports column.
“For sure, a tough opponent to come up against but exciting to know that she’s got the next few months to get better, to keep working. And that’s what she’s doing on the practice court.
“Being able to stay healthy and therefore play every week makes a huge difference. To give yourself the best chance of being seeded at Grand Slams, to know you won’t play another seed till the third round.”
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The former US Open winner will now regroup with her new coach Francisco Roig, and has accepted a wildcard into the upcoming WTA 500 in Seoul.
In her two previous outings at the Korea Open, she’s made the semi-finals and the quarters – and it presents a chance to secure some additional ranking points. Robson added: “I think it’s only positives to take from the last few weeks for Raducanu.
“And looking ahead to a time of the season where a lot of other players are tired and there’s a lot of points still on the line. If you’re mentally fresh and feeling like you can take it on, then it’s a great opportunity.”