Emma Raducanu is ready to play second-tier ITF events this season to refind the winning habit. The Bromley-based star banked $2.5m for winning the 2021 US Open title and was ranked No.4 in the Forbes Rich List of female athletes last year with an income of $15.2m. She peaked at world No.10 in 2022.
But Raducanu, who played the Australian Open on a protected ranking of No.103 after injury, will be unable to play most WTA events without a wildcard. The world No.296 has been invited to Abu Dhabi next month but will not get into qualifying for the Masters events at Doha and Dubai. Indian Wells, which now has 128 singles players in the draw, is probably her next chance.
And so she is open to playing ITF events with the W50 at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton next month offering a first prize of $6,094 (£5,000) – but also the chance to get more match experience after her eight-month layoff. There is another second-tier event in Porto the following week with the top prize of $9,142.
Raducanu, who lost to world No.94 Yafan Wang of China in Melbourne, said: “I would love to compete before Indian Wells. Oviously, depends on ranking and wildcard situation. That’s not my decision. Of course, I’d love to play in the Middle East. But it’s not my call is whether they would have me or not. So I’m waiting to hear on that. But my intention is definitely to compete beforehand.
“And I really believe that the level in these ‘lower-level tournaments’ and these tournaments is really not that big. Because you gain so many skills, you’re playing in these conditions, the wind. Here was a prime example. My opponent played a lot of iTF and got a lot of matches under her belt, but the level really isn’t that different. I would play whatever suits my schedule, whatever suits the plan.”
But Raducanu is unlikely to play for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup tie in France in April – or the Olympics – as she seeks to refind form and fitness. “I think I’m GB No.8 or something – no idea if I’ll get the call-up for that,” she smiled. “I guess we’ll leave it to them to decide.
“I always love representing my country, but that being said, I think because of the amount of niggles and the rehab process, I think whatever suits my schedule and my fitness the best is going to have to take priority, especially this year. The most sensible thing for me is staying healthy. That’s the priority for the year.”
Raducanu said she will keep working with her childhood coach Nick Cavaday. “I feel good about the way things are going,” she said. “I think the work we’re doing has been paying off because to get me to this level, only six weeks before I think from nothing, was good.”
But asked about adding a fitness trainer, she added: “I do like keeping my team small. Just keeping everything as close knit and good people I trust. I think it’s something to be looked at. But in the immediate future. I think it’s just getting more time in the practice for tidying up any bugs.”
