Emma Raducanu is starting her Monday with a significant boost in her WTA rankings, as the 21-year-old Briton has surged up to No. 69 in the world. This impressive jump comes after Raducanu gained 20 positions in the latest rankings update, marking a notable improvement over the last two months.
Raducanu began the previous week ranked No. 89 but made headlines with her strong performance at a WTA 500 tournament in Washington, where she reached the quarterfinals. Since she wasn’t defending any points from last year, her solid run in Washington has significantly helped her climb the rankings. This positive development puts her on the cusp of reentering the top 50, a milestone she’s aiming to reach.
The 2024 season has been a journey of recovery and resurgence for Raducanu. After undergoing multiple surgeries earlier in the year, she was initially ranked outside the top 300 and struggled with her form. By the start of the grass season, she wasn’t even in the top 200. However, her determination and hard work have paid off, with a remarkable improvement of around 150 spots over the past two months.
Reflecting on her progress, Raducanu feels optimistic and encouraged. Last year at this time, she was recovering from surgeries and faced numerous uncertainties about her return to competitive tennis. Despite the challenges, she has remained healthy throughout 2024 and has achieved several notable victories.
In her own words, Raducanu shared, “I think I made some pretty good strides in my game over the last few months. I started the grass season ranked outside of 200 and finished it in the top 100. For me, that was relatively successful. It guaranteed me a spot hopefully in the main draw of the U.S. Open, which was a significant goal for me. I wanted to make sure I got into the slams.”
She also reminisced about how far she’s come since last year, noting, “Compared to a year ago, I hadn’t been touching tennis balls. I was in China, which was great for family time, but I didn’t pick up a racquet until late November. Now, I’m very pleased to be where I am—competing, healthy, and just enjoying my tennis.”
However, Raducanu will not be competing in this week’s WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto after not receiving a main draw wildcard, but she remains focused on her continued progress and upcoming tournaments.
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