Emma Raducanu assesses her 2024 season – ‘I know I’m a dangerous player’
Emma Raducanu is pleased with the progress she made during the 2024 season as she believes her top 60 ranking proves that she is still “a dangerous player”, adding that “no one wants to pull my name in the draw”.
After starting the year at No 301 following an injury-ravaged 2023 campaign, Raducanu will finish this season at No 58.
Yet, she is the first to admit that it has been another stop-start year as she skipped most of the clay-court season and also missed the bulk of the Asia swing due to injury.
The 22-year-old will end the WTA Tour season with a 20-13 win-loss record, much improved from the 5–5 from 12 months ago.
Asked to assess her season, the Raducanu replied: “I think I started the year off pretty well for the first half, you know, up to Wimbledon.
“Then I struggled a little bit more with my body I think physically. Wasn’t able to play the full calendar and stay on court as much as I would have liked.
“But my assessment is, you know, I think sometimes I need reminding, I’m top 60 in the world and I have played less than 15 events, which is pretty unheard of, in a way.
“I have to pat myself on the back for that. I know I’m a dangerous player. I know no one wants to pull my name in the draw. I take pride in that, and I’m looking forward to hopefully staying on court longer next year.”
Following a disappointing North American hard-court swing that culminated in a first-round exit from the US Open, she found some form again at the Korea Open as she reached the quarter-final.
But then her injury nightmare resurfaced as she picked up a foot injury and missed the remainder of the Asia swing.
“I think I was playing some good tennis again in Seoul, and I was really feeling pretty good on those courts out there,” she said.
“Unfortunately I injured my foot. There were so many tournaments, and I wasn’t defending any points at the back end of the year, so of course I wanted to play. I think I just took the time and used it in a really proactive and productive way.
“I come back now, I feel like everything happens for a reason. It gave me time to work on certain things. Two days ago I served 10 aces, for example, which I did in Seoul in my last match, but it’s been a work in progress. It doesn’t just happen overnight.
“Even if I was a little bit at the time disappointed, now I feel pretty good, and I don’t look back with any regrets.”
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Raducanu returned to action at the Billie Jean King Cup and has won both her singles rubbers to steer Great Britain into the semi-finals.
Things are looking up ahead of the 2025 campaign.
“I think you just have to use whatever cards that you’re dealt,” the 2021 US Open winner said. “I think you can’t change a situation or I couldn’t in that moment. You know, not trying to live in the past or the future, just being present. You know, trying to adapt with what you’ve got.
“I think I knew there are certain things I could improve, and I just really took the time. You know, just thought about my game differently. Practiced those things, and I feel like I’m in a pretty good spot with my tennis right now.
“I think the biggest challenge after a long layoff is more the introduction to match play again. It’s so different. The difference between a practice match and a real stakes match, that is another transition.
“I think I have done that pretty well so far. Yeah, I’m looking forward to kind of building confidence with each match I play.”
