Emma Raducanu achieves rankings goal after emotional scenes with Brit on the charge

Emma Raducanu has made another significant stride in her comeback, breaking back into the WTA top 32 for the first time since 2022. This achievement not only represents her highest ranking in over two years but also secures - at least temporarily - a key seeding for the Grand Slams.

The 22-year-old British star, now the nation's top-ranked player, moved up one position to world No. 32 with 1,498 points following her second-round performance at the Korea Open in Seoul earlier this month. Maintaining this ranking would ensure she enters the Australian Open in January as a seed, reducing the risk of early clashes with the game's top players.

It marks a striking comeback. Just 18 months ago, Raducanu had fallen outside the top 300 while recovering from wrist and ankle surgeries. Now she is back in contention at the highest level, aiming to regain the form that earned her a historic US Open title in 2021.

At the Korea Open, Raducanu met Jaqueline Cristian in the first round. Torrential rain delayed play for an entire day, threatening to interrupt her rhythm, but she showed little sign of rust, defeating her Romanian opponent in straight sets.

The match, however, had its emotional moments. In the first set, Raducanu battled not only Cristian's resilience but also her own feelings. After winning the final point, she sank to her knees, tears flowing in a release of tension and relief.

READ MORE: Boris Becker shares regret with Emma Raducanu as he opens up on what went wrong

READ MORE: Andy Murray on Emma Raducanu stance after Wimbledon controversy and reason he stays silent

After the match, she declined to explain her emotional breakdown, saying only that it had been a tough opener. "I'm super happy to have won," she told the crowd. "It hasn't been easy. I feel like I've played this match the last three days. To have pulled through after waiting, I'm super pleased at how I came through.

"Jaqueline is a really tough opponent and has had great results recently. Tough conditions, very slow, long rallies and long points, so happy to have got through."

Raducanu's run ended in the second round, where she lost 4-6, 7-6, 1-6 to former Wimbledon and French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova. Still, her opening victory was sufficient to return her to the top 32.

Her decision to enter the Korea Open was strategic - and a gamble that paid off. Raducanu withdrew late from Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup Finals team - a move that caused some controversy - opting instead for the Asian hard-court swing to boost ranking points ahead of the 2026 season.

Captain Anne Keothavong admitted she was disappointed but stressed that the attention must remain on the players available: "It's obviously disappointing, but I do want the main focus to be on the players I have and the challenge we have ahead."

Raducanu played a pivotal role in last year's semi-finals in Malaga but skipped earlier qualifiers, prioritising recovery and points.

She's since been competing at the China Open, beating Cristina Bucsa in her first match but losing to former US Open finalist Jess Pegula in round three. On Saturday, she impressed fans by speaking fluent Mandarin during her post-match interview.

Her Grand Slam form has been improving steadily. She reached the third round at the Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon this year, having previously only progressed past the second round at a major once since her 2021 victory at Flushing Meadows.

As the 2026 season approaches, Raducanu will hope she has finally turned a corner. With injuries, coaching changes, and inconsistent performances behind her, her future looks far clearer.