Arabic version: رادوكانو تستعد للعودة في كأس يونايتد في يناير

According to BBC News, Emma Raducanu will return to tennis at the United Cup in Australia during the first week of 2027 after more than six months out with a stress fracture of the shin. Britain’s 2021 US Open champion has not played since losing to Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the Queen’s Club grass-court final on 14 June.

The 23-year-old withdrew from Wimbledon on the eve of her opening match, 14 days after the Queen’s Club final, and also missed the US Open. She considered playing events in Asia during the autumn, but delaying her comeback until January means she can use a special ranking of 38 to enter tournaments.

Players who have been absent through injury for at least six months can receive a special ranking. Raducanu’s ranking reflects her position after Wimbledon, where she received some prize money despite not playing. Her current ranking is 107, which would likely be insufficient for a main-draw place at the Australian Open and most WTA Tour events.

Raducanu can use the special ranking for eight events next year, including two Grand Slams and five WTA 1000 tournaments. It secures her entry to the Australian Open in Melbourne and the WTA 1000 events in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.

For the United Cup, the ranking makes Raducanu Britain’s number one for the competition. She will join Arthur Fery, Francesca Jones, Jan Choinski, Neal Skupski and Olivia Nicholls in the British team. The 18-team event runs from 1-10 January, with Britain scheduled to face Australia and France in group matches in Sydney.