Emma Raducanu issues word of caution to competitors at Australian Open 2025: "I can be a dangerous opponent for anyone"

2025 Australian Open Previews - Source: Getty
Emma Raducanu expresses positive affirmations about her skills and AO 2025 campaign (Source: Getty Images)

Emma Raducanu recently spoke positively of her prospects at next week's Australian Open. The Brit believes that she can hang in with any of her peers in the top-most rungs of the WTA tour.

Raducanu made a successful comeback from wrist and ankle injuries last year. The former World No. 10 was ranked outside the top 300 WTA rankings in January 2024 but leapfrogged more than 200 places to end the season ranked World No. 58.

Excluding team competitions, Emma Raducanu just played 13 tour-level events last year. Against that background, the Brit fielded questions during her pre-tournament press conference in Melbourne on Friday (January 10) regarding whether her year-end singles ranking could've been higher if she had played a full schedule.

Raducanu claimed in her response that there were no ifs and buts in sport. The 22-year-old was admittedly confident in her game based on the level she had previously shown against some top-10 players during her practice sessions.

"Well, I feel like would have, should have, could have is just something that doesn't really exist in sport in general," Emma Raducanu told the media in Melbourne on Friday. "I know that whenever I play, like, any top opponent, I feel like with the way that I'm feeling on the practice court right now, I was practicing with top-10 players, feeling pretty good out there, I think I can be a dangerous opponent for anyone really."

The World No. 60 added that it was important for tennis pros to have unbridled belief in their skills.

"So yeah, I think you have to kind of have that belief as a player," she said. "It's not really worth it going on court if you don't believe you can win."

Emma Raducanu expresses her views on tough early-round matches at Australian Open 2025

Emma Raducanu hits a backhand during practice (Source: Getty)
Emma Raducanu hits a backhand during practice (Source: Getty)

During the press conference, Emma Raducanu also talked about the tough draw that she received at the 2025 Australian Open. The former US Open champion will take on 26th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round.

The dangerous Amanda Anisimova and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek are her prospective second-round and third-round opponents, respectively, provided she navigates her way through Alexandrova's challenge. The Brit sensation was mindful of the hurdles in her path in Melbourne while repeating that she believed immensely in her tennis skills.

"Yeah, I mean, it's a tricky draw, of course. Being unseeded, you can play any top opponent. She [Alexandrova] is a player with a lot of experience. I guess I'm coming in with the underdog mentality, I guess. She's been in this situation many more times than I have," Raducanu said. "I back myself to the hills. I feel like I'm in a good place with how I'm approaching my tennis, how I'm feeling on the court."

Raducanu will be eager to improve on her career-best result of reaching the second round of the Australian Open next week.

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Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee
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