Emma Raducanu told what 'makes huge difference' after changing schedule following US Open

Emma Raducanu has tweaked her schedule following a run to the third round of the US Open. The 22-year-old was expected to represent Britain at next week's Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but she has pulled out of the team to play a regular WTA Tour event in Seoul instead.

Now up to No. 34 in the rankings, Raducanu is keen to build on her form by playing on the tour as much as possible until the end of the season, with the aim of being seeded in time for January's Australian Open. And retired British star Laura Robson says staying healthy will be the key for Raducanu.

The Brit had a successful North American swing, reaching the semi-finals in Washington and the third rounds of the WTA 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. At the latter tournament, she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in three very tight sets before losing.

Raducanu carried her momentum into Flushing Meadows, winning her first two matches in roughly an hour and dropping six games across the first two rounds. But she was thrashed by No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina 6-1 6-2 in round three.

Although it was a one-sided defeat, Robson believes the former US Open can take plenty of positives from her recent run, and should focus on staying fit and healthy so she can be seeded for the 2026 Australian Open.

"Raducanu was up against a very in-form Rybakina. You can come away from that match feeling upbeat about what Emma can improve on to challenge the cleanest hitters. And Rybakina was seeing the ball like a basketball, hitting everything in the sweet spot," the former British No. 1 wrote in her Sky Sports column.

"For sure, a tough opponent to come up against but exciting to know that she's got the next few months to get better, to keep working. And that's what she's doing on the practice court.

"Being able to stay healthy and therefore play every week makes a huge difference. To give yourself the best chance of being seeded at Grand Slams, to know you won't play another seed till the third round."

The former US Open champion will now regroup with her new coach Francisco Roig, and has taken a wildcard into the upcoming WTA 500 in Seoul.

In her two appearances at the Korea Open, she's reached the semi-finals and the quarters - and it's an opportunity to earn some extra ranking points.

Robson added: "I think it's only positives to take from the last few weeks for Raducanu.

"And looking ahead to a time of the season where a lot of other players are tired and there's a lot of points still on the line. If you're mentally fresh and feeling like you can take it on, then it's a great opportunity."

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