Emma Raducanu might reap significant advantages by concluding her 2024 campaign early, allowing her to concentrate on full recovery and preserve a protected ranking for 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 and ultimately opted to withdraw from Wimbledon at the last minute.
After further consultations with her medical team, Raducanu announced on Monday that she will also miss the US Open later this month, a development reported live on Sky Sports. In professional tennis, a protected ranking system exists to help players who have been sidelined by injury to re‑enter tournaments without having to start from the bottom of the rankings. The ATP and WTA operate slightly different rules. On the men’s side, a protected ranking is calculated based on the player’s average ranking over the three months preceding the injury.
For women, the protected ranking is frozen at the exact position the player held when the injury first occurred, and it can be used for up to eight events in a season—or twelve if the absence exceeds a year. Raducanu has only just taken tentative steps back onto the court, now wearing a protective boot, and this latest setback adds another chapter to a frustrating twelve‑month period marked by recurring physical problems. Speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, Croft—who transitioned from a playing career to a television analyst—remarked, "She’s been unbelievably unlucky with injury problems. There are so many injuries out there, but it seems like she never gets a clean run where she can fully commit her body, mind, and tennis without setbacks." The British star’s troubles began with a foot injury that disrupted her pre‑season preparation, followed by a two‑and‑a‑half‑month hiatus due to a post‑viral illness that first appeared in early February.
After a prolonged recovery, she finally returned for the tail end of the clay season, having re‑engaged Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the US Open title in 2021. However, their time together on court has been limited, and the pressure to perform quickly may have contributed to her recent injury. Raducanu’s most promising recent result came at Queen’s Club in June, where she reached a final that represented her best performance since her breakthrough in New York. Ironically, the intensity of that week appears to have triggered the stress fracture that now forces her out of the US Open and possibly the remainder of the season.
She was also omitted from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad for the September finals, a further indication of the severity of her situation. Croft noted, "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. But clearly the injury hasn’t healed yet." With her current ranking at 49, Raducanu faces the prospect of a steep drop if she remains inactive for an extended period.
The protected ranking rule could allow her to retain a spot near her pre‑injury top‑50 position for a limited number of events when she returns, provided she is out of competition for at least six months. This safety net could be crucial, as she still has a substantial number of points to defend from last year’s North American hard‑court swing, which included strong showings in Washington, Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open.
Croft, a former world No. 24, believes ending the season now might be a sensible choice.
"It wouldn’t surprise me if she decides to close the season early. That decision could give her the time to heal fully, undergo comprehensive treatment, and come back in peak condition for the start of the next year," she said.
"There’s a risk that her ranking could tumble with all those points to defend, but the protected ranking could cushion that blow." Health, as Croft emphasized, is paramount: "Your health is your wealth," she added. "Raducanu needs to get fit before worrying about rankings." Croft also highlighted the unusual nature of Raducanu’s injury. While she has dealt with calf strains herself, Raducanu’s stress fracture is distinct. "She’s incredibly light on her feet, and movement has always been one of her greatest assets.
At Queen’s Club she displayed beautiful, fluid tennis, and her ability to glide around the ball is a hallmark of her game. That agility must be at 100 % for her to compete at the highest level again." In summary, ending the 2024 season could provide Raducanu with the necessary breathing room to rehabilitate without the pressure of imminent tournaments, while the protected ranking mechanism offers a pathway back to the tour without starting from scratch. The next steps will likely involve a carefully managed rehabilitation program, possibly a return to familiar coaching staff, and a strategic plan to re‑enter competition when her body is fully ready. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as Raducanu navigates this challenging period, hoping that a well‑timed pause will ultimately lead to a stronger, healthier return to the sport she loves.