Emma Raducanu handed a reprieve as Brit's world ranking tanks at key moment - The Mirror

Emma Raducanu has been handed a boost ahead of the Australian Open after managing to maintain her WTA ranking despite ending her season early due to injury

Emma Raducanu has managed to maintain her No. 29 spot in the WTA world rankings despite ending her season early due to injury. However, fellow Brit Katie Boulter has seen her ranking plummet a staggering 21 places to No. 100.

Raducanu's season came to an abrupt end at the Ningbo Open in October when she suffered a lower back injury. The British No. 1 was forced to retire after two medical timeouts during her first-round defeat to Ann Li.

The 22-year-old had been set to compete at the Hong Kong Open but decided to cut her 2025 campaign short to focus on the upcoming season. Raducanu's year has been a rollercoaster, parting ways with coach Nick Cavaday and working with various mentors before finally teaming up with Rafael Nadal's former right-hand man, Francesco Roig.

The young tennis star also experienced a terrifying incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships when she spotted a man in the crowd who had been repeatedly trying to engage with her.

Following this unsettling event, the man was banned from WTA events and was later caught attempting to secure Wimbledon tickets. Despite these challenges, the 22-year-old has delivered some impressive performances, notably a match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at the All England Club.

As she gears up for 2026, Raducanu's ranking could prove crucial in securing a seeding for the Australian Open, scheduled for January. Before the Grand Slam, the former US Open champion has the United Cup to contend with, starting on January 2.

She will debut at the tournament next year and is excited to compete for her country at the event. Raducanu said: "I'm honoured to be able to make my United Cup debut in January.

"Being able to play for Team GB with my team-mates is a unique opportunity and week to enjoy. It's great to be able to experience a new format on the tour, represent my country and spend a couple extra weeks in Australia."

Meanwhile, Boulter won't be quite so pleased as her ranking plummeted from No. 79 to No. 100 following early departures at both the US Open and Wimbledon in recent months.

The 29-year-old was visibly upset as she retired from her first-round match against Alexandra Eala at the Hong Kong Open. Boulter has only managed to secure eight victories out of her last 21 main draw matches, failing to advance past the second round of a tournament since the Nottingham Open in June.

This has resulted in her WTA ranking taking a nosedive in 2025, after she started the year at No. 24. Both British players will be aiming to start 2026 on a high note with strong performances at the Australian Open, but recovery is key for Raducanu and Boulter as they head into the off-season.