Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
đź“» IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE đź“»
'Enjoying it a lot more': tennis hero back in business
Justin Chadwick, AAP •  January 3rd, 2026 8:24 am
2021 US Open champ Emma Raducanu is slowly getting back towards the top level in women's tennis | Photo: AP
British star Emma Raducanu has credited a greater level of fitness and a more fun-focused mindset as being the key to her steady rise back up the rankings.
Raducanu shocked the tennis world and made history in 2021 when she became the first qualifier to win a grand slam.
Her remarkable triumph at the 2021 US Open - at just 18 years of age - was the ultimate sporting fairytale.
Emma Raducanu's 2021 US Open triumph was the most astounding in tennis annals | Photo: AP
But that magical triumph must have seemed a world away as Raducanu underwent surgery on both of her wrists and her left ankle in 2023.
She ended that year ranked a lowly 285th in the world, but has been making a steady rise back up ever since.
The 23-year-old former world No. 10 rose to 58th by the end of 2024, and she finished 2025 ranked 29th.
Raducanu has been careful not to make any bold declarations about what she hopes 2026 will bring, but she now knows the recipe for success.
"I would say I'm most proud of especially in the last year just stacking good days consistently," Raducanu said ahead of her opening United Cup match against Japanese star Naomi Osaka in Perth on Sunday.
"I've been doing that a lot more and can see the benefits of that.
"I think physically I also improved. I became fitter, so I was able to play more matches and more tournaments on the road.
"That just gives us more opportunities to get some points here and there and also have good weeks when you're in a good run of momentum to kind of carry that through three, four, five matches.
"I think also, just my approach to playing. I've been a lot better, a lot more composed, but at the same time enjoying it a lot more again. That's been a big win for me."
Four-time grand slam winner Osaka suffered a shock 6-4 6-2 loss to world No. 52 Maria Sakkari on Friday night.
Osaka revealed after the match she was still battling a sickness she caught on Christmas Eve, and it remains to be seen how much better she will feel by the time she takes to the court again on Sunday.
