Emma Raducanu's ranking troubles are mounting fast. After being forced to withdraw from the entire North American swing, including the US Open, the 2021 Flushing Meadows champion is watching her hard-earned ranking points evaporate at an alarming rate.
The culprit is a stress fracture in her foot, sustained during a remarkable run to the final of the WTA 500 event at Queen's Club in June. That injury first ruled her out of Wimbledon, and she has now confirmed she will not be returning to the scene of her greatest triumph at this year's US Open either.
The consequences are significant. Raducanu has already dropped 10 places in the live rankings to No. 59, and the situation is set to worsen considerably. Points earned at the WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati will fall off her tally, and the 130 points she collected from a third-round run at last year's US Open will also disappear. Analysts expect her ranking to settle somewhere in the mid-80s by the time the US Open concludes, which could be enough for compatriot Katie Boulter to overtake her as British No. 1.
Dropping outside the top 100 would carry serious practical implications, potentially forcing Raducanu into qualifying rounds at major events, something she has historically been reluctant to pursue.
Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft voiced her concerns on Sky Sports Tennis, noting that Raducanu has battled wrist surgery, foot problems, and now another stress fracture throughout her career, and suggesting the injuries could sideline her for the remainder of 2026. Croft emphasised how promising Raducanu's Queen's Club run had looked, describing the broader tennis community as genuinely excited by the form she was showing.
TennisDraw users had Raducanu flagged as a player to watch closely in the bracket predictions heading into the summer hard-court season, making her absence all the more frustrating for fans.
