Is Emma Raducanu playing Australian Open 2025? All you need to know about Brit's Melbourne plans after injury scare

Emma Raducanu has gone through various ups and downs since winning her maiden Major title at the 2021 US Open against all odds. The Brit is only 22 years old but finds herself in a race against time this year to bring her career back on track.

Raducanu showed great promise during her 2024 comeback and expressed great aspirations for herself, stating that she wanted to establish herself as "one of the best athletes in tennis". However, the former World No. 10's 2025 tour season hit a setback two weeks ago when she withdrew from the Auckland Open - a lead-up event to the Australian Open - citing back niggles.

The above situation begs the question: Will Emma Raducanu be fit for this year's Melbourne Slam? Fortunately, the 22-year-old's back flare-up wasn't that serious as she already got her preparation underway with practice sessions at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne this week.

The Brit appeared to be in good spirits during her latest practice session on Monday (January 6), being all smiles as she took a break from trading hits. She will be eager to improve her career-best result of reaching the second round at the Australian Open next fortnight.

Fresh off her Major title-winning run at New York in 2021, Raducanu entered the 2022 Australian Open as the 17th seed. She came under the burden of the expectations though, being upset by the unheralded Danka Kovinic in three sets in the second round.

The former US Open champion was then unseeded in Melbourne the following year and lost convincingly to then-seventh-seeded Coco Gauff in the second round. She replicated the second-round result at the 2024 Australian Open, going out to Wang Yafan in three sets.

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Emma Raducanu enjoyed respectable results during 2024 WTA Tour comeback

Emma Raducanu hits a smash during her practice at RLA (Source: Getty Images)

Emma Raducanu suffered from wrist and ankle injuries two years ago that required surgery. She made her WTA Tour comeback last year and showed potential for success once again.

The highlights of her 2025 season included reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, making it to the last four at the Rothesay Open and jumping from 296th in the world in January to as high as 58th nine months later.

Raducanu also reached the quarterfinals of the Hana Bank Korea Open, the Mubadala DC Citi Open, the Rothesay International and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. She will be eager to carry her rich vein of form to this year's Australian Open, which begins on January 12.