How do you compare Chwalinska and Raducanu’s amazing runs as qualifiers? Plus Swiatek’s influence
Video credit: TNT Sports
Raducanu was beaten in the final by Donna Vekic but said it had been an “incredibly special” week that “deserves to be celebrated”.Unfortunately for Raducanu, she has not been on court since, pulling out of Wimbledon on the eve of the tournament due to a lower leg stress fracture.She also missed the entire North American hard-court swing, including the US Open, which has seen her fall from No. 31 in the WTA rankings after her Queen’s run (high enough to be seeded for Grand Slams) to No. 89 (not high enough to guarantee entry into all WTA 1000 tournaments).
With more ranking points set to drop in the coming weeks, Raducanu could soon be out of the top 100. That may mean she needs to enter qualifying at Grand Slams.
However, the 23-year-old could be set to make her return to the court this month.
When will Raducanu return from injury?
Fears were raised about Raducanu’s participation at Wimbledon when she was seen leaving the tournament wearing a protective boot.
When she confirmed her withdrawal she said: “The niggle I’ve been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I’ve been medically advised to stop pushing through.”
That was over two months ago and Raducanu has recently returned to the practice court at the National Tennis Centre and posted a short clip of herself serving on social media.
She is entered into the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, which starts on September 28, so could be set to start her comeback there.
The China Open is a mandatory tournament and will feature most of the top players on the WTA Tour, including newly-crowned US Open champion and world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, as well as Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu has only played Beijing once – in 2025 – when she lost to Jessica Pegula in three sets in the third round.
On that occasion, Raducanu got a bye through the first round due to her ranking, but that would not be the case this time around.
British No. 1 Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal (using a protected ranking after injury) are also on the entry list for the China Open.
What is Raducanu’s schedule for 2026?
If Raducanu returns at the China Open, she could then play several more tournaments in the Far East.
The WTA 1000 Wuhan Open, which starts on October 12, follows the China Open, and there is also the WTA 500 Ningbo Open, starting on October 19.
There are two tournaments in Japan (the Japan Open on October 19 and Pan Pacific Open on October 26) and also the Hong Kong Open on November 2.
Raducanu was scheduled to play the Pan Pacific Open and Hong Kong Open last season but pulled out due to injury.
Konta reveals thing she ‘admires’ about Raducanu
Video credit: TNT Sports
There is also the chance that Raducanu decides against playing again this season and instead focuses on being in the best shape for the 2027 season, with the Australian Open beginning on January 17.
Who is coaching Raducanu?Raducanu reunited with Andrew Richardson in May, the coach who oversaw her shock US Open triumph as a teenager.
Raducanu surprisingly parted ways with Richardson following the US Open and has been through several coaches in the last few years.
But she has struggled to establish a long-term partnership with any of her subsequent appointments and has now returned to Richardson.
Asked whether splitting with Richardson in 2021 was an error, Raducanu said: “I think at that time it was very difficult to say I made a mistake because in my life everything changed upside down, and I didn’t really think I had the most handle over the situation in the sense that I was being pulled left, right.
“I didn’t really know what was going on and, I think, everything also happened very quickly then.
“What it taught me is a lot of experiences over the past few years. It taught me a lot of what I didn’t want and it taught me that I really just value having people that I trust and connect with around me. So it’s really nice to have that feeling back.”
– – –
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.Download the TNT Sports app on iPhone and Android for clips, highlights and breaking news.Watch and stream top tennis action, including the Australian Open and French Open, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max.