Since her US Open win in 2021, Emma Raducanu’s career has been more about setbacks than comebacks. Over the years, injuries, coaching changes, and sometimes inconsistent schedules made it difficult for her to stay consistently at the top level. While there is no doubt about her talent, former world No. 1Â Mats Wilander believes the Brit still has some work to do, and that progress will take time.
Mats Wilander Believes Emma Raducanu Lacks Readiness
After prematurely ending the 2025 season due to health issues, Raducanu returned to competition in 2026 at the United Cup but was knocked out by Maria Sakkari in a close three-set match. However, there were some positive signs ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 18.
However, in his recent interview with TNT Sports, Wilander shared his honest opinion about Raducanu’s chances in Melbourne this year. He feels she can win a few matches but doesn’t expect her to go deep in the tournament, as her game is not good enough yet.
“I think she has the talent. I think technically she has the shots. I think the serve technically is good enough. I think in the future, she can be competing with the best players in the world, but she’s not there,” he said.
According to Wilander, the only way forward for Raducanu is to spend more time on tour consistently. “She doesn’t need two months. She needs a couple of years of being on tour week in, week out to toughen her up physically and to toughen her up mentally,” he said.
Wilander also acknowledged that injuries have played a major role in slowing her progress. “She’s not ready to have a great tournament. And I’m hoping one day you will see Emma Raducanu that is physically ready. I know that injuries is bad luck, and to her, she’s having too much bad luck,” he added.
Moreover, Raducanu’s coaching changes have often been talked about, and Wilander believes her current work with Francisco Roig could play a big role in making some big changes in her game.
How Raducanu Began Her 2026 Season
Raducanu’s 2026 season has had a difficult start, mainly because of fitness issues. A foot injury affected her preseason. She began her season at the United Cup but was unable to play Naomi Osaka due to the injury. In her only match, Sakkari beat her 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, which ended Team Great Britain’s run.
Raducanu then moved on to the WTA 250 event, Hobart International. As the top seed, she opened against Camila Osorio in a match that was stopped overnight due to rain. When play resumed the next day, Raducanu won 6–3, 7–6 (2), her first win of the year.
Her next match will be against Taylah Preston after Magdalena Fręch had to withdraw from the round of 16. Hobart is her final warm-up before the Australian Open, where she is seeded 28th.
Despite the challenges, there have been encouraging signs. Her movement and forehand look improved, and her choice to play smaller tournaments could help build confidence and match fitness rather than chase instant big results in her game.
