Emma Raducanu says she is ready to “push harder” in the final stretch of the season as she looks to finish the year strongly and secure a seeding for January’s Australian Open.
The British No 1 returns to action this week at the Ningbo Open, marking her tournament debut just days after she was forced to retire from her first-round match in Wuhan due to dizziness.
Despite a frustrating run of results in Asia so far, the 22-year-old remains focused on building momentum before the season ends.
Ahead of the tournament, she said: “I think it’s a special feeling, I feel very comfortable, I feel like I get amazing support here, which is so nice. I love how invested the Chinese fans are and how much support they give.”
Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from the Wuhan Open due to dizziness
|SKY SPORTS
Raducanu’s mother, Renee, who hails from China, has been travelling with her throughout the Asian swing, and the 22-year-old has spoken warmly about reconnecting with her maternal roots.
The former US Open champion has enjoyed a wave of support from local fans, many of whom have followed her progress closely since her 2021 triumph in New York.
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Currently ranked No 29 in the world, Raducanu is targeting a top-32 finish to secure a seeding at the Australian Open, a goal that would give her a more favourable draw at the year’s first Grand Slam.
She has already competed in Seoul, Beijing and Wuhan, and is determined to make her expanded Asian schedule count after several injury-disrupted seasons.
However, the Brit’s recent form has been mixed. She has won just two of her last five matches and suffered narrow defeats to Barbora Krejcikova and Jessica Pegula, having held match points in both contests.
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Emma Raducanu has had a good season so far, and is closing in on a seeded position for the Australian Open
|REUTERS
Her campaign took another setback in Wuhan last week when she was forced to retire while trailing American Ann Li 6-1 4-1 in brutal heat and humidity.
Raducanu later revealed that she had begun feeling dizzy and was struggling to cope with the conditions. She called for the doctor, had her vitals checked, and decided to withdraw rather than risk further issues. Temperatures had climbed to 32 degrees with humidity levels approaching 70 per cent during the match.
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Despite the disappointment, the 2021 US Open champion remains optimistic about finishing her season on a positive note.
“I just need to push harder,” Raducanu admitted.
“It’s been a tough few weeks, but I want to get some more wins and keep building towards next year.”
Despite a good season Emma Raducanu has lost all but one game against a top 10 opponent
|REUTERS
Her determination to end the year strongly comes after a campaign that has seen flashes of her best tennis but big losses against top 10 opponents.
With just a few events remaining on the calendar, the Briton knows that a strong run in Ningbo could make all the difference heading into 2025.