Emma Raducanu may find it advantageous to call an early end to her 2024 campaign, focusing on a full recovery and preserving a protected ranking before planning a comeback in 2027, according to former British No. 1 Annabel Croft.
The 23‑year‑old Briton sustained a stress fracture in the lower part of her right leg during the grass‑court swing, a setback that forced a late withdrawal from Wimbledon. After consulting her medical team, Raducanu announced on Monday that she will also miss the US Open later this month, a revelation made live on Sky Sports. In professional tennis, a protected ranking system exists to help players who have been sidelined by injury to re‑enter competition without having to start from the bottom of the rankings. The ATP and WTA have slightly different rules.
On the men’s side, a player can use a protected ranking calculated from the average of his ranking over the three months preceding the injury. For women, the protected ranking is frozen at the level it was when the injury first occurred, and it can be applied to up to eight tournaments in a season, or twelve if the lay‑off exceeds a year.
Raducanu has only just begun tentative sessions on court, still wearing a protective boot, and this fresh disappointment adds to an already frustrating twelve months marked by recurring physical problems. During an interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Croft, now a television analyst, described Raducanu’s situation as "unbelievably unlucky with injury problems." She noted that despite the myriad injuries that can afflict athletes, Raducanu has rarely enjoyed a stretch where she could compete completely free of pain, allowing her body, mind and tennis to progress in harmony. The British star’s difficulties began with a foot injury that hampered her pre‑season preparation, followed by a two‑and‑a‑half‑month absence due to a post‑viral illness that first surfaced in early February.
After a prolonged recovery, she finally returned toward the end of the clay season, having re‑engaged Andrew Richardson – the coach who guided her to the US Open triumph – although their time together on court has been limited. In June, Raducanu produced one of the finest weeks of her career, reaching the final at Queen’s Club – her deepest run since her New York victory – but the exertion appears to have triggered the latest leg fracture. Consequently, she was omitted from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad for the September finals. Croft observed, "I've seen countless photos of her in the boot, trying to serve, keeping the racket moving, showing everyone she’s doing everything she can.
Yet it’s clear the injury hasn’t healed fully." The former world No. 24 added that the decision to end the season would not be surprising and could actually be prudent. "If she steps away for at least six months, she can apply for a protected ranking for a select number of events when she returns.
That ranking would be based on her top‑50 position from the grass‑court period – the last time she earned prize money in a tournament." Raducanu currently sits at No. 49, but she faces a substantial points defence from last year’s North American hard‑court swing – Washington, Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open – meaning a prolonged absence could see her drop sharply in the rankings. Nonetheless, the protected ranking mechanism could cushion the blow, allowing her to enter key tournaments without having to qualify. Croft emphasized the importance of health over ranking, stating, "Your health is your wealth.
The priority is to get fully fit, rest, and undergo the necessary treatment. Once she’s back, she can return strong and ready for the next season." She also praised Raducanu’s athleticism, noting that her light footwork and ability to position herself impeccably have always been hallmarks of her game. "Movement is a major strength for Emma.
She’s incredibly light on her feet, never looks off‑balance, and that needs to be at 100 per cent when she steps back onto the court," Croft said. In summary, while the prospect of ending the season early may seem drastic, it could provide Raducanu with the time needed to heal completely, preserve a protected ranking, and ultimately set the stage for a more sustainable return in 2027.
The tennis community will be watching closely to see how she navigates this challenging period and whether she can reclaim her place among the sport’s elite once she is fully recovered.