Stepping out in a protective orthopedic boot in London after four months away from the public eye, Emma Raducanu is watching her world ranking slide to No. 107 while a calculated recovery takes shape behind the scenes, according to reports in the British tabloid The Sun.
The Ranking Slide and Foot Injury Timeline
Raducanu has not played a competitive match since June 14, when she sustained a right-foot stress fracture during her match against Donna Vekic at the WTA Queens Final. The subsequent inactivity has sent her ranking tumbling past the top 100 threshold. Having stood at No. 24 in March, the 2002-born star has fallen to No. 107. Reports note that she has been dealing with lingering issues in her right ankle and lower shin, keeping her sidelined through the Wimbledon and US Open tournaments.
Current Standings and Coaching Setup
With her ranking drop, Raducanu now sits as the third-ranked British female player, trailing Katie Boulter at No. 54 and Fran Jones at No. 104. Her current position marks her lowest ranking since August 2028. Despite the absence from tour events, Raducanu continues training with coach Andrew Richardson, the same coach who guided her historic run to the US Open title five years ago as a qualifier—a feat that made her the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977.
Recovery Strategy and Protected Ranking Options
Raducanu’s support staff has remained tight-lipped regarding her physical fitness and exact recovery timeline, and it remains unconfirmed whether she intends to play during the final three weeks of the season. She is currently omitted from the entry lists for the final six tournaments of the year, though she retains the option to request wildcards. Alternatively, if she does not return to the WTA Tour until January, she can apply to the governing body for a protected ranking. Under tour rules, players missing at least six months due to injury can freeze their ranking at the position they held when the injury occurred, which would place her at No. 31 based on her standing the day after the Queens Final.
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