It’s fair to say 2026 hasn’t started the way Emma Raducanu had hoped.
There was genuine hope around her decision to cut her 2025 campaign short and spend extra time working with new coach Francisco Roig, with many fans thinking that this could be the step forward she needed.
But just a few months into the season, things have already taken a turn. She’s pulled out of several events, had a run of early exits, and ended up parting ways with Roig.
While many are concerned about what lies ahead for the 22-year-old, Tim Henman is still looking on the bright side.
He believes a place in the top 10 isn’t out of reach if she can just make a few adjustments.
Tim Henman’s thoughts on how Emma Raducanu can find her form
Henman shared his perspective with Sky Sports after Raducanu withdrew from both Miami and Linz, offering insight into what he believes is currently limiting the former US Open champion.
Focusing on her physicality, Henman insisted: “It was highlighted in a match against (Amanda) Anisimova.
He said: “She’s never going to be as big a ball striker as Anisimova and the physicality that she brings to the court is obviously intimidating, as these top players are. But that’s where I think Raducanu needs to be physically stronger.
“She needs more physical resilience so she doesn’t get the little injuries that put her away from the court. They stop her building the momentum on the match court.
“You can still do a lot of physical work on the court, whether it’s two on one when you’re hitting and moving and building up that physical resilience to get stronger, to get faster, to hit the ball harder, to serve bigger. If I could pinpoint one area, it would most definitely be fitness.”
The former player then assessed Raducanu’s chances of climbing back into the world’s top ten rankings:
“I think we all appreciate and understand and see how good she could be. If she can continue to add these pieces to the puzzle there’s no reason why she can’t get in the top 20 and then knock on the door of the top 10.
“It does feel however far we get away from [in 2021], that spotlight will never dim,” he continued.
“She’s a really good athlete, but when she stretched out, she cannot withstand the power that’s coming at her and give it back and that’s where the gym work comes in.”
Raducanu is dealing with an injury again this year
That defeat marked her first-round exit since June of last year, but an even longer break was soon forced upon her following wrist surgery in March, which ruled her out for three months.
The same issue seems set to impact this year, too, after another wrist injury sidelined her in early March, with an expected return date still unknown at this point.
Throughout her career, Raducanu has dealt with a variety of physical and health setbacks. It’s hard not to notice how frequently she picks up these issues, especially for someone still early in their career.
She mentioned dealing with a chest infection during her run to the final in Cluj, and similar problems have stuck around ever since.
There’s never been any question about her dedication, but maybe it’s time for a change. Whether it’s diet-related or about managing workload, something needs to be done.
It would be disappointing to see a player with so much potential held back by ongoing fitness struggles.
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