By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, January 30, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty for ESPN
Emmma Raducanu is returning to a familiar route.
The 22-year-old Raducanu has accepted a wild card into Abu Dhabi Open qualifying this weekend in what will be her first qualifying appearance since her inspired run to the 2021 US Open championship.
Former world No. 10 Raducanu is scheduled to play her qualifying opener on Saturday.
Good news for fans: Tournament organizers announced Raducanu’s qualifying appearance is free for all fans.
Earlier this month, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek ran through 11 consecutive games razing Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 to charge into the Australian Open fourth round.
It was the lone AO third-round clash between Grand Slam champions and Swiatek turned it into a 70-minute statement of dominance.
World No. 56 Raducanu defeated 26th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova and former French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova prior to her blow-out loss to Swiatek.
Following the AO, Raducanu’s coach, Nick Cavaday, stepped down to focus on regaining his health.
Cavaday, Raducanu’s former junior coach who has known her since she was 10 years old, announced his decision in a statement.
“At this moment in time, it’s important for me to spend some more time at home and prioritize getting back to full health, which is hard to do with the extensive calendar,” Cavaday said in a statement. “I am glad Emma is back to being established on tour now.”
Reuniting with Cavaday after undergoing ankle surgery and surgery to both wrists in the spring of 2023, the 22-year-old Briton delivered a bounce-back season last year. Raducanu reached the Wimbledon round of 16 and quarterfinals at Washington, DC and Seoul in her final four tournaments of the 2024 season to finish last season ranked No. 58.
“I’d like to thank Nick for a great partnership over the last year and a bit, especially post-surgeries,” Raducanu said. “I wish him all the best in his next chapter and no doubt we’ll stay in touch.”
