It’s been a strange few weeks for Emma Raducanu as she looks to end 2025 with a flourish.
Raducanu was beaten by Jessica Pegula at the China Open, but she didn’t go down without a fight that typified her courage.
Pegula admitted she got lucky against Raducanu during her three-set victory, but it’s fair to say the Great Britain star played extremely well.
Raducanu wasted three match points against Pegula, and last week in Seoul, she did the same during a defeat to Barbora Krejcikova.
Some have cited a worry for Raducanu after failing to take her opportunities in matches, but there have certainly been more positives than negatives this year for the player.
Photo by China Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty ImagesRennae Stubbs changes her mind on Emma Raducanu after Jessica Pegula defeat
Stubbs has dropped her latest episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, and Raducanu has come in for some debate.
Raducanu is currently number 32 in the world, and she will undoubtedly be looking to scale the same heights that she did in 2022 when she reached a career high of number 10.
Stubbs spotted something during her defeat to Pegula, however, that should give her supporters encouragement that she can get back to her best.
She said: “I have to say Emma Raducanu, although she did not beat Jessica Pegula, she had three match points to win that match, and the tennis was fantastic from the beginning.
“I think Emma has gotten so much better with this new coach now, working on things, and she is on the cusp of breaking through again.
“I would argue that she is back as a top 20 player. I feel like she is in the top 20 category, and I really think the way that she pushed Pegula. It was great tennis.
“I feel like Jess might be really tough to beat now after that. Because when you are down match points, you feel like you are playing with house money.
“So I certainly think Jess will be really tough to beat. The Asia swing tends to be really quick on the court.
“I would argue that Emma, having her back inside the top 20 and really pushing these players [is good].
“When I was watching that match, I thought maybe Emma could make another semi in a major and maybe even a final, if she keeps playing like this.
“There are a lot of parts of her game that can get even better, so when you have won a major title before, you know how to do it.
“So I would not have said two years ago that she would make it back inside the top 10, but I actually do think she can make it back inside the top 10.”
Raducanu can enjoy a brilliant 2026
Raducanu should now benefit from being back in the world’s top 32, as it should, in theory, allow her to progress further in major tournaments.
During 2025, Raducanu has typically come up against top players in either her first or second match and given her recent injury history, that has proved problematic.
Raducanu knows she can win a major title, having lifted the US Open against the odds in 2021, and she will want to get back towards that level of the game.
At 22, there is time on her side and her recent performances – albeit ending in defeat – should give Raducanu the confidence she needs to kick on further next year.
As a previous Grand Slam winner, Raducanu won’t take too much heart from the losses to top 10 players but there is a genuine sense now that she can mix it with the game’s very best.