Former British No 1 Annabel Croft believes that Emma Raducanu may benefit from ending her season prematurely to focus on her recovery and secure a protected ranking before making a comeback in 2027. Raducanu, 23, suffered a stress fracture in her right lower leg during the grass-court season and was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon.
Following a consultation with her medical team, she has also pulled out of the US Open. A protected ranking is a provision in tennis that allows players who have been absent due to injury to qualify more easily for tournaments upon their return. The rules for protected rankings differ between the ATP and WTA Tours. For the WTA Tour, a player's protected ranking is fixed at the time of the injury and can be used for eight tournaments in a year, or 12 if they miss more than a year.
Raducanu has only recently started taking tentative steps back onto the court while wearing a protective boot. According to Croft, Raducanu has been 'unbelievably unlucky' with her injury problems and needs to prioritize her health.
Raducanu's latest setback has raised questions about whether she will compete again in 2026, given the temptation of a protected ranking. If she misses at least six months of competition due to injury, she can use a special ranking for a select number of events upon her return.
This would be her top-50 ranking from during the grass season. Croft thinks that ending her season early might not be a bad decision, as it would allow Raducanu to fully heal and return to the court fit and ready to go at the start of next year.