Emma Raducanu misses +82 rankings chance in Nottingham – but significant rise is guaranteed

Emma Raducanu pensive

Emma Raducanu has missed the chance to jump back into the top 150 of the WTA Rankings on Monday after her Nottingham Open semi-final defeat.

The 2021 US Open champion is currently ranked world No 209, but has no rankings points to defend for the rest of the season – after skipping most of 2023 post-surgery.

And she looked in fine form on home soil at the Nottingham Open this week, reaching her first grass-court semi-final this week.

Raducanu sealed her semi-final spot after compatriot Francesca Jones pulled out of their last eight match on Saturday, but a tough semi-final awaited in the form of another Brit – Katie Boulter.

Third seed Boulter is the defending Nottingham champion, but Raducanu edged a narrow first set on Saturday night, prevailing 15-13 in a tiebreak.

But, on resumption on Sunday afternoon, Boulter responded in style to force a decider and, after failing to serve out the match, broke to claim a 6-7(13), 6-3, 6-4 win.

“Honestly, I think I’m going to need a little defib out here soon because my heart rate is too high right now,” joked Boulter.

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“What a match – what an incredible player. I know she’s only going to get better and better, and she makes it so tough for you to close it out. I’m just really happy to get through today – I’m proud of myself.”

Defeat is a blow for the world No 209, who could have surged dramatically up the rankings had she claimed the title in Nottingham this week.

Had she beaten Boulter and then former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova in the final, Raducanu would have moved up to world No 127 in the rankings – a stunning leap of 82 spots.

But, even with defeat, a significant surge is guaranteed.

She is projected to be world No 165 on Monday, a jump upwards of 44 spots, and has plenty more chances to gain even more ranking points in the coming weeks.

Raducanu will be in action at the WTA 500 event in Eastbourne, before Wimbledon – where she is all but guaranteed to receive a wildcard – takes place the week after that.

That will lead to a busy summer on the hard courts, where she could be primed for further progression back towards the top of the game.

It was confirmed today that she will not be heading to Paris for the Olympic Games this summer, with the chance to head to hard courts – and avoid returning to clay – a key factor behind that decision.

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