It’s been more than four years since Emma Raducanu made history, winning the US Open as a teenage qualifier. The British No. 1 has been through highs and lows ever since – peaking at No. 10 in the world, but undergoing three surgeries and ending her 2023 season early. Now, Raducanu seems to be trending in the right direction, going from outside the world’s top 300 to No. 29 in under two years.

And retired player-turned-pundit Greg Rusedski believes there is “no reason” why Raducanu can’t make a push to get back into the top 20 – but he told Express Sport that she must have her ducks in order and find a trusted team base, much like Andy Murray and current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka have in their own careers.

“Her thing is all based on health, it’s all based on expectation, and it’s about having a solid team of people around her. [Mark] Petchey did a good job in the summer. Then Francisco Roig came in, who has worked with Rafa [Nadal]. So it’s about having that consistent person with you, and then staying healthy and keeping the momentum going,” Rusedski exclusively told Express Sport.

“So for Emma, the problem was, she won a Slam, one of the hardest things to do in our sport, and then everything changed. I think it was a total of eight coaches [she went through]. You need to ride that wave of momentum, and it’s great to see she’s rebuilding herself up there.

“And she’s got to forget about that US Open, like it doesn’t even exist, and just keep on the track she’s going with good people around her, and if she can do that, there’s no reason why she can’t get up to the top 20 and hopefully get higher. But it’s a hard journey back, from No. 300 to No. 29. It’s health, consistency, and the right team.”

While Raducanu went through several coaches in the 18 months following her US Open victory, she has since found a stable team. The world No. 29 worked with her childhood coach, Nick Cavaday, for just over a year before he stepped back in January, needing to spend more time at home for health reasons.

Raducanu formed an ad-hoc partnership with Petchey, a former coach and trusted figure, and he juggled his coaching duties with his full-time job as a commentator for the Tennis Channel for a few months. The Brit has since linked up with Spanish coach Roig, and their partnership is set to continue in 2026, while Raducanu has jetted to Barcelona for a pre-season training block.

The 2021 US Open champion has also hired Emma Stewart as her physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach, and works with French chiropractor Jerome Poupel. Rusedski, who is launching the Off Court with Greg podcast, wants Raducanu to have a “consistent base” – and this could be it.

He added: “You’ve got to feel like you have the right team of people around them, and you’re going to have ups and downs. I mean, look at Andy Murray’s career, one of the greatest players of this generation, the best British male tennis player in the Open Era. He had a pretty consistent team base for a long period of time. You look at Rafa, the same thing, you’re looking at [Roger] Federer, you look at Sabalenka, who’s No. 1, there’s a consistent base, and that’s huge.”