Exclusive: Mats Wilander backs Emma Raducanu to break into 'top 10 before the end of 2025' ahead of Australian Open
Published 11/01/2025 at 12:30 GMT
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Emma Raducanu can break back into the world's top 10 this year if she stays fit, according to Mats Wilander. The British No. 1 has not been that high in the rankings since 2022 following a number of injury issues. Ahead of this year's Australian Open, Wilander exclusively told Eurosport that he is expecting big things from the 2021 US Open champion, as long as she stays healthy and injury-free.
'That forehand had flames on it!' - Raducanu finds her range in second set
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mats Wilander is backing Emma Raducanu to have a fruitful 2025 - as long as she can stay fit.
The British No. 1 is gearing up for the Australian Open, which gets underway on Sunday, January 12, live on Eurosport and discovery+.
She reached the second round in Melbourne last year, losing to Wang Yafan after a win in straight sets over Shelby Rogers.
That was her first Grand Slam appearance in 12 months after being plagued by wrist injuries in 2023.
However, the 22-year-old was able to take to the court more consistently over the course of last season.
And Wilander believes if Raducanu can prove her fitness issues are behind her, she can look forward to a successful year.
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Raducanu suffers painful defeat to Wang in second round - Australian Open highlights
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I've seen her play a little bit in the last couple of months and it looks like she's on her way back," he told Eurosport.
"We never really quite know when it comes to injuries with Emma. Obviously, she's been very unlucky.
"Maybe she was lucky to win her first Grand Slam, but then she got really unlucky with injuries.
"In terms of her tennis technique and tennis IQ and the way that she tries hard and she wants to come back, the list goes on and on when it comes to positive things.
"The only negative is that her body doesn't seem to be able to hold up.
"But if she's healthy, Emma at some point in her career will break into the top 10 and she will be a force to be reckoned with over the next 10-12 years most probably.
"But she has to be healthy for more than nine months a year on average.
"She showed enough of the level that she can still play at in 2024 and she's going to improve.
"But if we hypothetically say she’s going to be 100% physically, I say that she breaks into the top 10 before the end of 2025."
In terms of court time, last year was Raducanu's most successful since her big break through in 2021.
She made the fourth round at Wimbledon for the second time in her career, while getting to the last eight of tournaments in Washington, Eastbourne and Seoul.
The 22-year-old did miss a large chunk of the Asian swing in the autumn due to a foot problem, but returned to help Great Britain make the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup.
Now ranked 56th in the world, she withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland last week with a back niggle.
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But Wilander still has strong hopes for her year ahead.
"She's going to get better and better and better," he continued.
"She might never have a better tournament than when she won the US Open a few years back, but that doesn't mean she's not going to improve as a player.
"I can’t say I expect big things because we don't know physically where she's going to be at and how her body is going to hold up."
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