Despite playing only 14 tournaments, Emma Raducanu wrapped up her 2024 season on a high. Great Britain did not make it past the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, but Raducanu’s performances in all her matches were stunning. It was her first time on the court since suffering a foot injury in mid-September. Despite being two months away, she showed few signs of rust upon her return and put in a commanding performance. Now looking forward to the 2025 season, the Briton is already on the practice courts in London.

Although the comeback wasn’t easy, Raducanu won 20 of the 33 matches this season and finished the season ranked No. 57 in the world. This is a significant achievement considering she started the year ranked 303rd after a challenging 2023 filled with injuries and surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle. Climbing nearly 250 spots in the rankings is impressive and showcases her resilience and determination to return to form.

According to a post by Opta Ace on X, Emma is among the ‘Biggest Ranking Movers In The WTA (2024),’ alongside Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Lulu Sun. Despite not clinching a title this year or since her major win at the 2021 US Open, Raducanu’s rise is impressive. If it weren’t for her injuries, she could have climbed even higher on the list.

“Sometimes I need reminding: I’m top 60 and I’ve played less than 15 events, which is pretty unheard of,” the 22-year-old told BBC Sport. “I have to pat myself on the back for that.” Currently training in London at the National Tennis Centre, Raducanu is hyped to get back on the court and add more titles to her resume in 2025. But is she confident in her body to do so?

Emma opens up about her comeback after another injury-riddled season

Surely, the young WTA star has had enough of resting up in the last two years. This season, Raducanu faced a sprained ankle at the Korea Open that put her out of contention for two months. After her performance at the Billie Jean King Cup, where she took down all her opponents in her matches leading the team to the semi-finals, she stated, “I’ve had four or five weeks off tennis, and I don’t really need any more time off.”

On November 7, Raducanu expressed her readiness as reported by The i Paper. She said, “I feel really strong. I feel really fit.” However, she acknowledged the challenge of transitioning from training to match play, noting, “I haven’t played that many matches. So it’s different.” This year, Raducanu participated in only 14 tournaments and faced early exits at major tournaments, including the Australian Open and US Open.

She reflected on her season in the Billie Jean King Cup. After taking down Germany’s Jule Niemeier, Canada’s Rebecca Marino, and lastly, Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova, she said, “I felt like I recovered well. I wasn’t tiring in the matches.”

Now as she prepares for a competitive season, questions linger about whether Raducanu can replicate her past success on the court. The biggest challenge ahead will be facing other top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek heading into 2025. With a renewed sense of determination and focus on enjoying her game, will Raducanu shine once again as she did in 2021? Only time will tell!