As the countdown to the 2026 Australian Open begins, Emma Raducanu is leaving nothing to chance. In a strategic move designed to maximize her match fitness and climbing momentum, the 2021 US Open champion has officially added the Hobart International to her early-season schedule. The announcement, confirmed via the tournament’s official social media on Wednesday, signals Raducanu’s intent to enter the year’s first Grand Slam with a full head of steam and a significantly bolstered ranking.
The Tasmanian Tune-Up
The Hobart International, a storied WTA 250 event held at the Domain Tennis Centre in Tasmania, will serve as Raducanu’s final dress rehearsal before Melbourne. Scheduled from January 12–17, the tournament is celebrating its 31st edition with what organizers are calling the strongest women’s field in three decades. Raducanu, currently ranked world No. 29, is expected to be one of the top seeds in a draw that features fellow Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejčíková and two-time Hobart winner Elise Mertens.
For Raducanu, choosing Hobart is a tactical masterstroke. Unlike the high-pressure environment of larger WTA 500 events, Hobart offers a competitive yet manageable platform to secure vital ranking points. Defending champion McCartney Kessler will also be in the mix, providing the high-level resistance Raducanu needs to sharpen her “dictating” style of play under the guidance of coach Francisco Roig.
A Star-Studded Start at the United Cup
Before she touches down in Tasmania, Raducanu will kick off her 2026 campaign on the grand stage of the United Cup. Representing Great Britain from January 2–11, she will headline a “magnetic” pairing with ATP world No. 10 Jack Draper. The British squad has been drawn into Group E, based in Perth, where they face a formidable challenge against Japan and Greece.
The United Cup offers a unique format of mixed-gender team competition, and for Raducanu, it presents an early opportunity to test her mettle against elite opposition. A highly anticipated clash against Japan’s Naomi Osaka is already being billed as a “clash of the titans” that could set the tone for her entire Australian summer. “I’m honored to be able to make my United Cup debut,” Raducanu said in a statement, emphasizing her desire to gain “extra weeks” of acclimatization in the Australian heat.
Chasing the Top 20
The decision to play both the United Cup and Hobart reflects a shift in Raducanu’s philosophy toward a more robust, “workhorse” schedule. After a 2025 season hampered by minor injury setbacks, she enters 2026 with a clean bill of health and a clear objective: breaking back into the world’s Top 20. By competing in two consecutive lead-up events, she aims to avoid the “cold start” that has occasionally plagued her in past Slams.
As “Grand Slam champ vibes” arrive in Hobart, the British No. 1 is proving that her 2026 ambitions are backed by a rigorous blueprint. If the synergy between her aggressive baseline game and Roig’s technical coaching clicks in January, the Hobart International could be the final piece of the puzzle in Raducanu’s quest for a deep run in Melbourne.