Emma Raducanu set for rankings breakthrough as she prepares for final event of 2021

Tennis News
Emma Raducanu celebrates

Emma Raducanu is set to end her breakthrough year on the WTA Tour with another highlight, as she is set to break into the top 20 of the world rankings for the first time next week.

The 18-year-old Brit became an instant tennis sensation as she claimed US Open glory after becoming the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam event.

That win sealed her remarkable rise to prominence, just a few month after her run to the last-16 at Wimbledon.

Now Raducanu’s dream year is set to be given a crowning glory as she closes in on a top 20 finish in the WTA rankings ahead of what looks set to be a rush of year-end awards.

Raducanu is set to play in the WTA event in Linz, Austria, next week and she will do so as a top 20 player, with a decent run in what will be her final event of 2021 likely to ensure she finishes the year in that lofty position in the rankings.

It is a remarkable rise after Raducanu was ranked at No.338 in the WTA list ahead of Wimbledon last summer, with former British No.1 Greg Rusedski suggesting the teenager has the potential to be a world No.1.

“I think she’s going to be a multiple Grand Slam champion. I think she has the potential to be a world No 1,” he told Sky Sports.

“What she has done in her first two majors, there’s very few that have done. She got to the fourth round of Wimbledon in her first major and then she’s gone on to win the US Open.

“There’s only three other female players that have got to the fourth round or better in both events in their first two majors.

“Chris Evert, who was world No 1 and multiple Slam winner, Jennifer Capriati, world No 1 and multiple Slam winner, and Monica Seles, so she joins that category of elite superstars.

“We’ve never seen this in the game before, for someone to come through qualifying and go on to win a major, so her future is going to be exceptional so long as she can stay healthy, put the right team around her. I think her future is going to be incredible.”

Emma Raducanu

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