Former British number one Tim Henman has delivered a significant vote of confidence in Emma Raducanu, predicting she can reach the second week of the upcoming Australian Open. This endorsement comes as Raducanu received confirmation of her seeding for the first Grand Slam of 2026.
Seeding Secured Ahead of Melbourne Campaign
Emma Raducanu has been confirmed as the 28th seed for the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Sunday. The seeding offers the 23-year-old a measure of protection in the draw, potentially easing her path through the early rounds. Raducanu is currently fine-tuning her game at the Hobart International, where she has progressed to the quarter-finals.
Her build-up to Melbourne has been a mix of challenges and progress. She kicked off her 2026 season at the United Cup, where Team GB exited in the group stage. Raducanu withdrew from a scheduled match against Naomi Osaka before suffering a defeat to Maria Sakkari. In Hobart, she secured a win over Camila Osorio and received a walkover after Magdalena Frech withdrew from their last-16 clash.
Henman's Verdict on Raducanu's Prospects
Speaking to TNT Sports, Henman, who captained Great Britain at the United Cup, outlined his expectations. "I would like to see her in the second week of the Australian Open. I think that's realistic," he stated. Henman emphasised that Raducanu's primary need is to build physical resilience, not to prove her tennis ability.
"To me, there's no question about her tennis ability," Henman asserted. "So if she builds her fitness... I think if I could sign a contract and she was through to the round of 16, I think that would be a great start to the year." He highlighted that her current ranking around 29th in the world provides a solid platform.
Progress Under Coach Francisco Roig
Henman also praised the development he has witnessed in Raducanu under the guidance of her coach, former Spanish player Francisco Roig. "I really cannot speak highly enough of him," Henman said, describing Roig as great fun and excellent in his on-court input.
He believes the pair are building a strong relationship and making progress in all the right areas, particularly in the gym. Henman pointed to near-misses at the end of 2025, where Raducanu held match points against top players like Barbora Krejcikova and Jessica Pegula, as evidence that a top-20 finish in 2026 is a realistic goal.
Raducanu's immediate focus is her quarter-final match in Hobart against Australia's Taylah Preston on Thursday, as she seeks her first title since her historic 2021 US Open victory. All roads then lead to Melbourne Park, where the tennis world will see if Henman's prediction comes to pass.
