What changed
Emma Raducanu will return to tennis at the United Cup in Australia from 1–10 January 2027, after missing the tour since June with a stress fracture of the shin.
Britain’s 2021 US Open champion has received approval to use a special ranking of 38. That gives her entry to eight events next year, including the Australian Open and WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.
Why it matters
Raducanu’s actual ranking is 107, which would likely leave her outside the main draw at several of those tournaments. The special ranking changes that immediately. Her comeback now has a clear runway instead of depending on qualifying places or late withdrawals.
She is expected to play alongside Arthur Fery in Britain’s United Cup team. Britain will face Australia and France in its group in Sydney, with matches against Talia Gibson and Diane Parry possible.
The timing is a trade-off. Raducanu will have had more than six months away from competitive tennis by January. That may give her longer to prepare, but training cannot fully reproduce the pressure and rhythm of matches. Her first tournament will show not only whether she is fit, but how quickly she can sustain her level once the points start counting.
Whether she plays an exhibition before the end of 2026 remains uncertain.
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