Can Emma Raducanu rewrite the story after her 2025 WTA decision?

Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Emma Raducanu has the chance to address a 2025 setback

Emma Raducanu’s 2026 campaign hasn’t started as she’d hoped.

After making it to the Transylvania Open final, her form dipped during a spell of illness that lingered longer than expected.

Most recently, Amanda Anisimova swept her aside 1-6, 1-6 in the third round at Indian Wells.

As she took time to recover, fellow Brits stepped up in Melbourne. Jack Draper was one win short of the men’s singles title, and Andy Murray, still going strong at 38, claimed his fifth Australian Open crown.

Now, Raducanu has a chance to put things right from last year.

Raducanu urged to join the Billie Jean King Cup finals for Great Britain

Photo by Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Great Britain pulled off an upset in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying round.

Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Francesca Jones were all absent for the tie against Australia, but the British team still found a way through, winning 3-1 to book their place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Mika Stojsavljevic, 17, kicked things off with a win over world number 76 Talia Gibson 7-6, 7-5. Harriet Dart then followed up by upsetting Kimberley Birrell in three sets: 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Dart and Jodie Burrage capped off the upset with a doubles victory over Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3, 6-4.

Emma Raducanu now has the chance to fix what went wrong last year. She opted out of the 2025 finals to focus on WTA Tour events and work on her partnership with then-coach Francisco Roig—a decision that backfired after an early exit from the Korea Open.

When she’s at her best, Raducanu is still Great Britain’s top player. Heading into this autumn’s finals in Shenzhen could give her a real chance to make an impact on one of tennis’ biggest stages while ending Britain’s long wait for another title.

Recapping Emma Raducanu’s Billie Jean King Cup debut

Raducanu first featured for Great Britain in the BJK Cup back in 2024, playing a key role in their qualifying win over France.

She contributed wins over Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry to help secure the tie 3-1.

She also carried that form into the Finals, picking up victories against Jule Niemeier of Germany and Rebecca Marino of Canada.

In the semi-finals, she beat Viktoria Hruncakova 6-4, 6-4, though Britain fell short overall with a 2-1 loss to Slovakia.

“We came into this event really believing that we had a good shot at it but unfortunately, we came up short. “Overall, I feel really proud of this team, not just for their efforts in Malaga but all the previous ties to take us to this stage.”

Read more:

• Katie Boulter handed a huge chance to win her first WTA clay court title
• Spotlight shift: Elena Rybakina withdraws as replacements step up
• Brutal route: Alexandra Eala’s Stuttgart path may include Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina showdowns