What’s been happening with Emma Raducanu since her amazing US Open win?
Emma Raducanu fell to her knees, overwhelmed with joy, as she ended Britain’s 44-year wait for a female Grand Slam tennis winner six years ago. That amazing 2021 US Open victory seemed like just the beginning for the 18-year-old, who soon signed big sponsorship deals with brands like Nike, Porsche, Tiffany & Co, Dior, and many others.
But now, at 23, Emma hasn’t been able to match her 2021 success. She’s reached only two finals since then, and some people think she might be focusing more on her sponsorships than on tennis. She’s made it to the second week of a Grand Slam just once in a season, and by April 2025, she had only eight sponsorship deals left.
Still, Emma surprised everyone by leaving Nike in February 2026 to sign a new £3.2 million deal with up-and-coming tennis clothing brand Uniqlo. Unfortunately, just two weeks before the US Open, she was ruled out due to a stress fracture.
So, what’s been holding Emma back? Mostly, it seems, injuries. Plus, she’s worked with nine different coaches over the years, which might explain why it’s been hard for her to find a steady rhythm on the big stage. Injuries are tough for any athlete, especially when they keep happening, but with all the ups and downs, it’s clear she needs stability and good support around her.
Her first final since that big win was at Cluj-Napoca in 2026, where she lost straight sets to Sorana Cirstea in a short match. Despite having fans cheering her on, Emma looked tired and low on energy, which was unexpected given how well she’d played earlier in the tournament. She did make it to the Queen’s final in June 2026 but lost again in straight sets to Croatia’s Donna Vekic, and she hasn’t been seen playing since.
One big question is whether Emma’s struggles come from not being able to keep up her fitness and stay healthy between coaches and injuries. Injuries are part of sports, but everyone goes through tough times and finds ways to push through.
So how many injuries has Emma had? This year, she missed the 2026 Wimbledon because of the same stress fracture that kept her out of the US Open. She said the fracture came in her right leg after dealing with small issues during the HSBC Queen’s tournament. She even planned to play through some pain but had to pull out last minute.
Her injury troubles started even before her US Open win. In 2021, she had to quit Wimbledon due to breathing problems in the fourth round. Soon after that historic win, she retired early from a Czech Republic tournament because of injury. Her 2022 season was also tough, ending early with a wrist injury after multiple retirements. Her biggest blow came in 2023 when ankle surgery and wrist problems sidelined her for eight months and three Grand Slams. She also admitted feeling mental pressure and once said she sometimes wished she hadn’t won the US Open, as her world ranking dropped to 133 from as high as 10.
But Emma started coming back in 2024, climbing from 303rd to the top 60 despite only playing 15 events. She even gave herself a “pat on the back” for managing her workload better. That year had its ups and downs though, including first-round losses at the US Open and Madrid Open, and pulling out of Mixed Doubles with Andy Murray at his Wimbledon farewell. Then in 2025, illness cut her season short again.
Despite all this, Emma has shown she still has real talent. In 2024, she reached one semi-final and four quarter-finals, including a close loss to World No.1 Iga Świątek. She’s been careful about managing how much she plays, trying to balance competition with recovery.
Injury expert Stephen Smith told Tennis365 that the busy tennis calendar makes it tough for players to get enough rest. For Emma, building stronger fitness blocks and allowing time to recover will be key to handling the demands of being a pro.
Back in January, Emma said she spent most of her pre-season in the gym and doing physio work, building strength and fitness instead of playing a lot of tennis. “I know my level is there, I just need to get the reps in,” she said.
Looking ahead, things didn’t go as planned with her injury forcing her to end the 2026 season early. But she’s been working with Andrew Richardson, the coach who helped her win the US Open and reach the Queen’s final in June. It feels like Emma just needs a bit more consistency—in playing time, coaching, and support—to get back to her best.
At 23, Emma still has plenty of time to bounce back if she can stay healthy. It won’t be easy—injuries are tough to overcome in elite sports—but there’s every chance she can revive her career and show the world what she’s really capable of.