LONDON — In a candid and wide-ranging interview from her training base, Emma Raducanu has offered a significant update on her physical health and dropped a revealing hint about her competitive schedule for the 2026 season, signaling a new, patient, and strategic phase in her young but already storied career.
The 2021 US Open champion, whose journey has been punctuated by dazzling highs and frustrating injury setbacks, spoke with a palpable sense of optimism and clarity. She confirmed she is now fully recovered from the multiple surgeries on her wrists and ankle that sidelined her for much of 2023 and is building a robust physical foundation with a long-term vision firmly in mind.
A Foundation of Health: The 2025 Blueprint
Raducanu’s primary focus for the remainder of 2024 and the entirety of the 2025 season is unequivocal: “The absolute priority is building a body that is resilient enough to handle the rigors of the tour for years to come,” she stated. This means a deliberate approach to tournament selection, with an emphasis on consistent training blocks over a packed competition calendar.
“I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t shortcut the process,” Raducanu admitted. “My team and I are aligned on a plan where 2025 is about consolidation—playing a solid schedule, staying healthy, and climbing the rankings steadily. The grand ambition isn’t for next year; it’s for what comes after.” This philosophy marks a stark departure from the whirlwind period following her Flushing Meadows triumph, where external pressures and physical frailties collided.
Her current training regimen, designed in collaboration with her coach and physiotherapist, is heavily focused on injury prevention. Key pillars include:
- Strength & Conditioning: A tailored program to fortify the vulnerable areas—wrists, ankles, and core.
- Controlled Load Management: Meticulously tracking practice volume.
- Technical Refinement: Adjusting stroke mechanics to reduce strain.
The 2026 Hint: A Return to the Grandest Stages
It was when discussing goals beyond 2025 that Raducanu offered her most intriguing revelation. When asked about long-term targets, she pointedly mentioned the 2026 season, highlighting two specific events. “I’m looking at 2026 as a real launch point. Everything we’re doing now is about being peaking for that period. The Olympics, of course, are a huge goal, but also a proper run at Wimbledon and the other Slams.”
This comment is particularly revealing for two reasons. Firstly, the 2026 calendar features the Summer Olympics, which will be held on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon. For a British player of Raducanu’s stature, winning a medal at the All England Club represents a pinnacle achievement. Secondly, by framing 2026 as a “launch point,” she implicitly defines 2025 as a necessary preparatory year, managing expectations while setting a clear, long-term objective.
The Allure of Wimbledon 2026
The prospect of an Olympic tennis tournament at Wimbledon has already captured Raducanu’s imagination. “It’s a unique opportunity that only comes around once in a career, if you’re lucky,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “To represent Team GB, at Wimbledon, with the whole nation behind you… it’s the stuff of dreams. That’s a massive motivation in my rehab every single day.”
This goal also provides context for her scheduling strategy. To qualify for the Olympics, she will need to be ranked among the top-ranked British players and meet the ITF’s eligibility requirements concerning Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup participation—another factor likely influencing her planned tournament appearances in 2025.
A Matured Perspective on Pressure and Process
Raducanu’s reflections also showcased a player who has undergone significant personal growth since her breakthrough. She spoke openly about the “overwhelming noise” that followed her US Open win and how her enforced time away from the court provided unexpected perspective. “In a strange way, the injuries gave me time to breathe and think,” she confessed.
This matured outlook is now the bedrock of her new approach. “I’m not chasing immediate results anymore. I’m chasing a career. I want to be playing at my best when I’m 24, 25, 26. That means sometimes making unpopular decisions—skipping a tournament to get another week of training in—but I’m finally at peace with that.”
Her team has been structured to support this vision. She has maintained a close-knit group, avoiding the high-profile coaching carousel of her early years, and is investing in long-term partnerships with physios and fitness experts who understand the granular detail of her medical history.
The Road Ahead: Patience as a Strategy
For fans eager to see Raducanu return to the top of the game, her message is one of cautious optimism underpinned by patience. The 2024 season will see her continue a gradual return, likely with a mix of WTA events and high-level practice. The 2025 season is framed as the build year: the period to re-accustom her body to a full tour schedule, accumulate ranking points, and refine her game.
Then, comes 2026. By explicitly naming it, Raducanu has set a public marker for herself and her team. It is a bold move that creates a timeline for her own ambitions—centered around Wimbledon and the Olympic Games—while asking the tennis world for the time and space to execute her plan. “I know what I’m capable of when I’m fit and healthy,” she asserted with quiet confidence.
In conclusion, Emma Raducanu’s latest update is more than just a positive health bulletin. It is the declaration of a new, strategic chapter. By prioritizing long-term physical integrity over short-term gratification and pinpointing 2026 as a target for peak performance, she is attempting to rewrite the narrative of her career on her own terms. The journey back to the summit will be a marathon, not a sprint, but for the first time in a while, Raducanu seems to have the map, the team, and the unwavering focus to navigate the path ahead.