Emma Raducanu is continuing to firm up her plans for the start of the 2026 season after confirming her entry into another warm-up event ahead of the Australian Open.
The world No. 29 has added the Hobart International to her schedule, giving her an extra opportunity to sharpen her game before the year’s first Grand Slam. She had already committed to the United Cup, the mixed-team competition that begins on January 2, and is clearly eager to rack up match practice early in the season.
Raducanu will make her first appearance at the WTA 250 tournament in Hobart, which runs from January 12 to 17. Tournament organisers revealed the news on social media, welcoming the former US Open champion with a celebratory post highlighting her Grand Slam pedigree.
She will be joining a competitive field that includes two-time Major winner Barbora Krejcikova, world No. 20 Elise Mertens and defending champion McCartney Kessler. Rising teenager Iva Jovic and Queen’s Club champion Tatjana Maria are also set to compete.
The British No. 1 is currently deep into her pre-season preparations in Barcelona, where she is training under Spanish coach Francis Roig.
After spending Christmas back home in the UK, Raducanu will head to Australia for a busy summer swing.
Her season will officially get underway in Perth at the United Cup, where Great Britain have been placed in Group E alongside Japan and Greece. The team face Japan on January 4 before taking on Greece the following day, with only the group winners advancing to the quarter-finals.
Raducanu is expected to meet Naomi Osaka in the singles tie against Japan and could also come up against Greece’s Maria Sakkari—two opponents she has beaten in the past. The British squad also features Jack Draper, Billy Harris, Lloyd Glasspool, Mimi Xu and Olivia Nicholls, with former world No. 4 Tim Henman serving as team captain.
With the Australian Open approaching, Raducanu is well placed to secure a seeded spot. The top 32 players receive seeds at Grand Slams, and she currently sits comfortably at No. 29 in the rankings.
The 23-year-old believes she will arrive in Melbourne as an improved version of herself following her work with Roig. Speaking before her training block in Barcelona, Raducanu explained that the focus has been on building a stronger overall foundation to her game.
She said the aim has been less about outthinking opponents tactically and more about raising her own level, allowing her to execute her game with confidence. While she acknowledges she doesn’t possess overwhelming power to dominate opponents outright, Raducanu feels her progress will come through sharper technique, better timing and improved movement—areas she has been working on closely during the off-season.
