Emma Raducanu’s Stunning Comeback: Why 2026 Could Be the Year She Finally Blows Up — According to Jonathan Overend!
Hold onto your tennis rackets, folks: the stage is set, the audiences are stirring, and the spotlight might just be heading back to Britain’s own Emma Raducanu. Because according to veteran commentator Jonathan Overend, 2026 might not just be another year for the rising star — it could be something special.
Raducanu’s 2025 season was a bit of a roller-coaster. She grappled with health issues, struggled in parts of the tour and couldn’t always close the big moments. But here’s the kicker: when she clicked, she showed glimpses of that elite-level spark worthy of the big stage. Overend points out those flashes of brilliance — matches where Emma looked like she belongs among the top 20, maybe even top 10. And that, my friends, is what gives the tennis world reason to lean forward.
What’s changed? For one, Emma is working with coach Francisco Roig — yes, the same guy who’s been around the heavyweights and coached legends. That pairing alone raises eyebrows. Add to that improvements in her serve, her footwork, and the mental grit required to push through tight matches — that secret sauce many great players master. Overend says the serve has more “pop,” the first hit off the return needs to tighten up, the reaction time must shorten — all the subtle but vital bits that separate “very good” from “champion contender.”
And then there’s the health angle. Emma’s body hasn’t always cooperated. Illness, back complaints, close losses slipping away — it’s been frustrating. But she’s also young, just approaching 23, and has already climbed from being outside the top 300 into the top 30 in a couple of years. That rapid ascent is quietly impressive. And when you combine that trajectory with the right coaching environment and a clearer body, you begin to imagine what a full-tilt, focused Emma could do in 2026.
Overend’s verdict? If Emma keeps stacking those small gains, stays healthy, and locks in with Roig’s system, the only way for her is up. And that’s where the “something special” comes from. It’s not a guarantee of a Grand Slam win, but it’s the kind of season where she might beat more top-10 players, win deeper into majors, earn true seeding protection, and finally step out of the “potential” shadow into the full-blown contender light.
For fans of British tennis, Emma’s next chapter could be the one where you stop saying “imagine if…” and start saying “wow, there she is.” Keep your eyes peeled — 2026 may just be the year Emma Raducanu proves that she isn’t just a story of hope, but one of high drama, major moments and maybe — just maybe — the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.
