Emma Raducanu: Commentator Jonathan Overend explains why there could be ‘something special’ for England’s number one in 2026 | tennis news

Could something special happen for Emma Raducanu in 2026? Commentator Jonathan Overend explains why there is reason to be optimistic about England’s number one.

Raducanu had hoped for a strong finish into 2025 to guarantee seeding for the Australian Open in January, but instead The season ended early due to struggles in China..

The 22-year-old was due to compete in next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and the Hong Kong Open, which starts on October 27, but decided to focus on recovery after feeling unwell.

It was a poor season for Raducanu, who suffered ups and downs with just three wins before the Miami Open in mid-March, but her temporary coaching deal with Marc Pechej paid immediate dividends as she reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal before Spaniard Francisco Roig took over in time for the US Open.

This heralded a good spring and summer for Raducanu, with them consistently winning matches and falling almost in half in the rankings.

However, she has only two wins in four tournaments in Asia, losing on match point against Barbora Krejcikova and Jessica Pegula.

Raducanu has done enough to earn a seeding in Melbourne, improving his chances of avoiding the draw he has faced at Grand Slams this season and giving himself a good platform to build on.

speaking sky sportsCommentator Jonathan Overend looks back on Raducanu’s season and pinpoints areas of his game that need improvement as he aims for a successful 2026.

“Raducanu’s challenges this year were very clear,” he said. “Getting over the line and beating the top 10 players still remains a problem because she had back issues and had a period of illness at the end of the year that prevented her from competing as she wanted in Asia.

“She will obviously be disappointed not to get one more point in a tight match against Krejcikova and Pegula. Better players than Emma Raducanu have lost on match point and that is painful, but it also shows that you are in a position to win against the best players and she will be there in the summer. She proved it in her two matches against Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon and Cincinnati.

“It’s these two games that give me the most cause for optimism heading into 2026. She absolutely looked like a top-20 player and a top-10 contender. She has to believe that a day like that could always happen.”

A truly impressive jump in rankings

Raducanu will climb from outside the top 300 in early 2024 to the top 30 by the end of 2025 and will turn 23 in November.

“If you take away everything else around Raducanu – the special Grand Slam fairytale, the hype, the incredible focus and attention that’s there – it’s really impressive for a player at that age to make that jump in the rankings,” Overend said.

“Double wrist surgery to be ranked in the top 300 in the world within two years before turning 23? Any player can tell you that’s amazing! The fact that it’s Emma Raducanu certainly means the conversation is very different because of what she’s achieved previously and the expectations that come with it. That’s why I call this Raducanu a woman who won the US Open at age 18. This is why I have always been extremely reluctant to compare it to the fairy tale Raducanu.

“When you tell the story, it’s almost tempting to ignore the accomplishments because it distorts the reality of the progress she’s made over the past two years.”

What if Raducanu’s US Open success was all a dream?

“Let’s say that didn’t happen. It was all a dream. Raducanu went to college in the United States, got a business degree, played college tennis, turned professional at age 21, but had serious wrist problems, had double wrist surgery, was struggling to get back on tour, was outside the top 300 in the world, and within two years he was in the top 300.” Let’s say you’re in the top 30. That would be a really cool trajectory,” Overend added.

“So it’s really important for everyone to see it in that context, and it’s really important for her to see that context and see the progress she’s made. I’m confident she will do that.”

Radukanu retired from her second match against Anne Lee in Wuhan last week, complaining of dizziness due to the hot and humid temperatures, and posted a photo of herself at a doctor’s office on social media.

She said she felt good and chose the Ningbo Open, but was clearly not 100% and lost again in her opening match.

Raducanu won the first set against Zhu Lin, but looked lethargic in the second set, suffering a recurrence of his back problem in the decider while his blood pressure was being checked, leaving him barely able to move until the end.

“She has some back issues that have been nagging at times. The illness during the Asia swing was obviously bad timing, but it was quite worrying to see her so dazed. But if she continues to work with the right people and work on her health and fitness, she will be heading in the right direction,” Overend said.

What areas of Raducanu’s game could be improved?

Game-wise, Overend believes there are still areas for improvement under the guidance of Roig, Rafael Nadal’s former coach.

“She’s noticeably put a lot of effort into her serve, a little more pop, a little more consistency with her first delivery, which has increased those numbers,” he said. “For me, it’s the reaction when you come back, because the best players in the world can do a lot of damage with their first hit when they come back. It can come back before you know it and that was revealed during (Elena) Rybakina’s humbling at the US Open and I think she knows that’s an area that needs improvement.

“It’s the reaction time, it’s the footwork after getting off the serve. It’s just generally being prepared for what’s coming and coming faster than ever before.

“Director Francisco Roig will have many ways to resolve this. I am sure it is high on the agenda.”

the only way is up

Raducanu won 28 games this year and advanced to the semifinals in Washington, but at the Miami Open last March, she advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating eighth-seeded Emma Navarro before losing to former US Open finalist Jessica Pegula.

“Another problem is that close games are taken away from her so quickly. I think it’s the inevitable disappointment of missed match points. When you’re one point away from winning a match, it’s hard to recover. How can you close that disappointment and move on?” Overend said.

“The reality is she’s had 50 matches in a year. It’s been a successful year in that respect. She’s had some good wins and been pretty consistent against lower-ranked players. She’s challenged higher-ranked players and had a standout win over Navarro in Miami. She’s made it to the semifinals and continues to be in the standings in terms of rankings. He’s making really excellent progress and I think the only way is up.

“I’m confident she can be a top-10 player. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication and a real commitment to her relationship with Francisco Roig, which has the potential to be her most successful coaching relationship in a long time. 2026 could be something special for Raducanu.”

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