British tennis has a new number one: Emma Raducanu.
For the first time in two years, the 22-year-old born in Toronto has reclaimed the top spot as the highest-ranked player in the UK. She overtook her close friend Katie Boulter, who lost significant points from her victory in Nottingham last year. As a result, Raducanu, who recently reached the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club, climbed to 36th in the WTA rankings.
Raducanu’s Consistency in 2025
Although Raducanu hasn’t won a title in 2025—and hasn’t even reached a semifinal—her season has been marked by consistency. Unsurprisingly, she currently sits at No. 31 in the WTA Race, reflecting a stable level of performance throughout the year. In Grand Slams, she reached the third round in Australia and the second round in Paris, losing both times to former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Outside the slams, she made it to the quarterfinals in Miami and the Round of 16 in Rome. Most recently, she reached the quarterfinals in London, winning two matches at the Andy Murray Arena before falling to top seed Qinwen Zheng.
Back Problems, No Berlin
Despite her recent progress, Raducanu will not be seeded at Wimbledon. Her decision to withdraw from the WTA event in Berlin proved crucial, as it denied her the chance to earn the ranking points needed to break into the top 32. The withdrawal was prompted by an ongoing back issue that she has been managing since last month.
“It’s been lingering for the last few weeks, and I have had back issues before. It’s just a vulnerability of mine. I know I need to take good care of it. I need to take a break. [It] needs proper and careful management,” she said, as reported by the BBC.
Eyes on Wimbledon
Raducanu had been offered a wildcard for the Berlin tournament, which she had initially chosen over the home event in Nottingham, but ultimately turned it down to stay home and recover. Her focus is now on arriving at Wimbledon in the best possible shape.
Despite withdrawing from Berlin, she remains on the entry list for the WTA 250 event in Eastbourne, which could serve as her final tune-up before Wimbledon. The All England Club holds special significance for Raducanu, as she reached the fourth round there twice, in 2021 and 2024. She will be aiming to deliver another strong performance in front of a home crowd eager to see her go deep once again at her home Slam.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – Imagn Images
