Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has recently shared her strategic decision to focus on tournaments in Asia for the latter part of the 2024 season. This move comes after a period of reflection and adjustment following a challenging summer where her scheduling choices were heavily scrutinized.
Raducanu, who has a deep connection to Asia through her Chinese heritage, expressed her excitement about competing in the region. She mentioned that Asia feels like home to her, and she thrives in the environment there. This personal affinity, combined with a strategic approach to her career, led her to prioritize the Asian swing of the WTA Tour.
The decision to focus on Asia was not made lightly. Raducanu carefully planned her year to ensure she would be in peak condition for this crucial part of the season. She intentionally kept her schedule lighter in the first half of the year, skipping several tournaments on clay and grass to avoid burnout and to prepare herself for the demanding end-of-year stretch.
Emma commented: ”
“I always knew there was a really long block in Asia at the end of the year and I didn’t want to overdo myself in the first half of the year,. If you look at the tournaments I played it was relatively light. I skipped quite a few weeks over the clay knowing that I’m at the stage where I’m not trying to win every event on the clay on the grass and hard.
I have to prioritize and Asia was one of those for me. So I stacked the year on the backend heavy because I’m excited. I thrive in Asia. It’s where I truly feel like home. So I’m buzzing for that trip even though it’s at the end of the year. I’m looking forward to going out there and trying to take it.”
Raducanu’s schedule includes key tournaments such as the Hana Bank Korea Open in Seoul, the China Open in Beijing, and the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open. These events are significant not only for their prestige but also for the substantial ranking points they offer. With no points to defend until January, Raducanu sees this as a golden opportunity to climb back into the top 50 and potentially secure a seeding for the Australian Open.
Reflecting on her summer, Raducanu acknowledged that her light schedule may have contributed to some of her struggles on the court. However, she remains optimistic and determined to make the most of the remaining season. Her goal is to play as many matches as possible, gain valuable match experience, and continue working on her game.
Raducanu’s journey through the Asian tournaments will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. Her ability to adapt and thrive in this environment could be a turning point in her career, setting the stage for a strong finish to the year and a promising start to the next season. As she steps onto the courts in Asia, Raducanu carries with her the hopes of a resurgence and the determination to prove her critics wrong.
Raducanu in Seoul, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently the world no.70, Raducanu has managed to achieve a composed 19-12 match record in 2024. Emma is now playing in Seoul where she beat the world no.48 Peyton Stearns 7-6(4) 7-6(5).
Emma Raducanu will come up against the world no.40 Yue Yuan in the 2nd round on Thursday at 6:00 pm on Centre Court. They have never competed against each other until now in top events.
She is also scheduled to play in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Tennis Open) after Beijing. The main draw will start on the 23rd of September.