Emma Raducanu may be the British No 2 but she still ranks first for the level of scrutiny she faces.
On the cesspit that is X it is difficult to find a female player more vilified than the 22-year-old. There is even one desperately sad account that has Raducanu’s face mocked up as a clown, focusing not only on her performances but bizarrely speculating over her personal life.
The account does not warrant a namecheck, but it has posted a mere 23,000 times since joining X two years ago, which equates to roughly 30 posts a day. Seriously.
The person behind this account has decided to dedicate their time to revelling in her misery when Raducanu loses or retires through injury, and chooses to roll their eyes and laugh at her fanbase when she does well – as was the case this week.
Raducanu did not drop a single set in her three Billie Jean King Cup victories as Great Britain narrowly missed out on the final in Malaga when Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls lost the deciding doubles tie against Slovakia on Tuesday night.
For her part, after two months away due to a foot injury, Raducanu beat what was in front of her in each opening rubber – players ranked 103, 92 and then 241 in the world.
Amid this run, Raducanu did what all players must, face the media and assess her performances, a routine so recurring and monotonous that some choose to take the easy way out with brief replies (and often, who can blame them).
But not Raducanu, this week at least, which led to social media critics accusing the Briton of “arrogance” when she asked to assess her overall season.
“I think I started the year off pretty well for the first half, up to Wimbledon,” Raducanu said, having reached the last 16 of her home grand slam, beating world No 9 Maria Sakkari to get there.
“Then I struggled a little bit more with my body I think physically, wasn’t able to play the full calendar and stay on court as much as I would have liked.
“My assessment is, I think sometimes I need reminding, I’m top 60 in the world and I have played less than 15 events, which is pretty unheard of in a way.
“I have to pat myself on the back for that. I know I’m a dangerous player. I know no one wants to pull my name in the draw. I take pride in that, and I’m looking forward to hopefully staying on court longer next year.”
Emma Raducanu may be the British No 2 but she still ranks first for the level of scrutiny she faces.
On the cesspit that is X it is difficult to find a female player more vilified than the 22-year-old. There is even one desperately sad account that has Raducanu’s face mocked up as a clown, focusing not only on her performances but bizarrely speculating over her personal life.
The account does not warrant a namecheck, but it has posted a mere 23,000 times since joining X two years ago, which equates to roughly 30 posts a day. Seriously.
The person behind this account has decided to dedicate their time to revelling in her misery when Raducanu loses or retires through injury, and chooses to roll their eyes and laugh at her fanbase when she does well – as was the case this week.
For her part, after two months away due to a foot injury, Raducanu beat what was in front of her in each opening rubber – players ranked 103, 92 and then 241 in the world.
Amid this run, Raducanu did what all players must, face the media and assess her performances, a routine so recurring and monotonous that some choose to take the easy way out with brief replies (and often, who can blame them).
But not Raducanu, this week at least, which led to social media critics accusing the Briton of “arrogance” when she asked to assess her overall season.
“I think I started the year off pretty well for the first half, up to Wimbledon,” Raducanu said, having reached the last 16 of her home grand slam, beating world No 9 Maria Sakkari to get there.
“Then I struggled a little bit more with my body I think physically, wasn’t able to play the full calendar and stay on court as much as I would have liked.
“My assessment is, I think sometimes I need reminding, I’m top 60 in the world and I have played less than 15 events, which is pretty unheard of in a way.
“I have to pat myself on the back for that. I know I’m a dangerous player. I know no one wants to pull my name in the draw. I take pride in that, and I’m looking forward to hopefully staying on court longer next year.”
Raducanu’s 2024 record against the top 50.
Raducanu’s claim that hers was a name players would want to avoid drew the most derision, but what good is wanting to be competitive if there is no belief to back it up?
What has been deemed arrogance is in fact essential for a player competing among the top rungs of any individual sport, and so Raducanu should not be scolded for saying what she believes, for giving an answer to a question she was asked. In other words, she was prompted into providing her assessment, not merely shouting it from the rooftops for anyone to hear.
And while yes, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff would not quake in their tennis shoes at the sight of facing Raducanu, she would be right in her assessment that she will never be underestimated.
Her delight at being in the top 60 after playing just 15 tournaments in 2024 (including both the BJK Cup qualifiers and finals, which accrue no WTA points) is not misguided either.
Only Czech duo Karolina Muchova (22nd) and Marketa Vondrousova (39th) are listed as having played fewer tournaments with a higher ranking, which shows what Raducanu is capable of.
Her season-ending ranking of 58 is a fair reflection of where her game is at. There is little point getting carried away and declaring the Raducanu rollercoaster is back on a rise capable of ending in a second slam, but she would be right to look up after enjoying a positive record over top 50 players in 2024.
With 12 wins and eight losses in that regard, including two top-10 scalps, Raducanu’s primary focus in 2025 must therefore be returning to the top 32 in order to be seeded at slams.
It is an achievable target, and having thrived in the team environment of the BJK Cup, there would be no harm for Raducanu to install a friendly rivalry with compatriot and British No 1 Katie Boulter, pushing herself to match a player who sits 24th in the rankings.
Boulter has shown where graft can get you, having briefly occupied a career-high 23rd earlier this month, riding a wave of momentum since her Nottingham Open win 17 months ago, when she was ranked 126th.
