Emma Raducanu handed Indian Wells main draw wildcard, can still qualify for WTA Finals in Mexico
:focal(178x132:180x130)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/04/03/3673848-74785904-310-310.jpg)
Updated 29/09/2021 at 14:24 GMT
Emma Raducanu has risen dramatically up the WTA rankings after coming through qualifying at the US Open to become Britain's first women's Grand Slam singles champion for 44 years. The prodigious teenager has won 21 of her past 25 matches and become Britain's number one player, overtaking Johanna Konta and Heather Watson.
Raducanu hits red carpet with Hollywood stars for James Bond premiere
Emma Raducanu has been handed a wildcard for the Indian Wells main draw as she retains hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals in Mexico.
Raducanu became the first British women's Grand Slam singles champion since 1977 at the US Open, and her remarkable achievement has seen her overtake Johanna Konta as the highest-ranked woman from Britain.
The 18-year-old, who began the year ranked at number 345 in the world (the 11th best British woman), is now at number 22, but the entry list for Indian Wells was published during the US Open, prior to her meteoric rise.
The popular tournament, which is often referred to informally as 'the fifth Grand Slam', takes place in California from October 4-17 and will be the Brit's first event since her triumph at Flushing Meadows.
Raducanu has also entered WTA tournaments in Russia and Romania in October as she targets a place at the season-ending WTA Finals in Guadalajara, something which would represent yet another remarkable achievement.
She is currently 14th in the race to secure a spot at the illustrious event, and she requires just under 400 points to place within the top eight.
Raducanu's prospects improved further after it was announced on Tuesday that world number one Ashleigh Barty had withdrawn from Indian Wells, with her prospects of playing at the WTA Finals seemingly in doubt.
The Wimbledon champion last played at the US Open, where she was knocked out in the third round, and has been away from home since March, along with her team, following the Australian Open.
For Raducanu, it has been a wild few weeks, from appearing on the red carpet at the Met Gala in New York, to receiving a VIP welcome at the New York Stock Exchange and even splitting from her coach at Flushing Meadows, former British professional Andrew Richardson.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/09/14/3218258-65920433-2560-1440.jpg)
Osaka, Raducanu, Williams, Biles hit the Met Gala red carpet
Despite being alongside the 47-year-old for the stunning win at just her second Grand Slam, Raducanu said she believed that she now needed a coach with more WTA Tour experience to enable her to build on her breakthrough success.
"Where I was at after Wimbledon, I was ranked around 200 in the world and, at the time, I thought Andrew would be a great coach to trial," Raducanu explained.
"We went to the States but never did I even dream of winning the US Open and having the run I did; now I'm ranked 22 in the world, which is pretty crazy to me.
"I feel like at this stage in my career, and playing the top players in the world, I realised I really need someone right now that has had that WTA Tour experience at the high levels.
Especially right now, because I'm so new to it, I really need someone to guide me who's already been through that.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/09/25/3226246-66042188-2560-1440.png)
Kate Middleton shows off tennis skills as she plays with US Open champ Emma Raducanu
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement