Tim Henman Sets ‘Realistic Goal’ for Emma Raducanu As He Backs Her to Win at Australian Open

Emma Raducanu claimed her first match win since September 2025 in the opening round of the Hobart International.

Tim Henman Sets ‘Realistic Goal’ for Emma Raducanu As He Backs Her to Win at Australian Open

Tim Henman, Emma Raducanu (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz Brasil, Raducanu News)

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The Australian Open is around the corner, and Emma Raducanu, after a long time, will be seeded in a Grand Slam tournament, as she stands in the 29th spot on the WTA rankings. Her compatriot Tim Henman, also the former British No.1, has set a “realistic goal” for her for the 2026 season.

Raducanu did not have a great pre-season because of fitness issues. One thing about her career that has become too common is withdrawals from tournaments and mid-match retirements due to physical discomfort.

She is in Hobart, participating in the WTA 250 event. But prior to the event, she withdrew from the United Cup after losing to Maria Sakkari during Britain versus Greece clash. In Hobart, the first seed knocked out Camila Osorio, then received the walkover from Magdalena Frech to schedule the quarterfinal clash with home favorite Taylah Preston.

It was at the Australian Open where she will participate next. Henman believes Raducanu’s realistic target in Melbourne is to progress to the second week. He also commented on the 2021 US Open champion‘s partnership with fitness coach Francisco Roig, who worked with 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal for 18 years (from 2005 to 2022).

I feel his knowledge and his input on the court, practice court, match court is really excellent. And I think they’re building a really good relationship. So I would love for Emma and Francis to keep going. I think they’re making a lot of progress, building in all the right areas. And as I said, a lot of it is also in the gym to build that physical resilience.

Tim Henman told TNT Sports

In Grand Slam events last year, Raducanu failed to make the fourth round, losing thrice in the third round (Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open), while at the French Open, she suffered a second-round exit.

They finished the year [ranked] 29, but actually, when you look at a few of the matches, certainly at the end of the year against [Barbora] Krejcikova and against [Jessica] Pegula, she had match points, Emma, in both those matches. And if she comes through those and wins a couple more, she easily could finish in the top 20. For 2026, for Emma to finish in the top 20 is a realistic goal.

Tim Henman added

She finished the 2025 season at the Ningbo Open, losing to Zhu Lin in her opening round. The first Major of the season is set to start on January 18.

Emma Raducanu on her tight match against Camila Osorio

Emma Raducanu registered her first match win since September 2025. Given that she dealt with a lot of setbacks in recent times, the 6-3, 7-6 (2) match win for sure has given some confidence to her.

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu (Image via X/Emma Raducanu Fan)

These ones mean so much more. It’s such a fine line between winning and losing a match like that. It can easily affect your whole mood, your whole day, your whole weeks. I try not to let that happen, but it’s very ­difficult. This is a very good day for sure to stack up.

The final of the Hobart International will be held on January 17. Second seed McCartney Kessler was the defending champion, but she suffered a three-set defeat at the hands of Olga Danilovic in the opening round.

Since that win in the New York Major, Raducanu has yet to feature in another final. Last year, for the first time since that win, she won four consecutive matches in a single tournament. At the Miami Open, she progressed to the quarterfinals, losing to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula in three sets.

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