Greg Rusedski has endorsed Emma Raducanu's decision to extend her recovery from a stress fracture in her lower right leg, saying she can challenge for the top 10 in 2027.
Raducanu, now ranked No. 107, has returned to practice but has not indicated plans to compete again this year.
She missed Wimbledon and the US Open due to the injury, according to Sports Yahoo.
Her ranking would not provide direct entry to the Australian Open, but an absence of at least six months could make her eligible for a protected ranking.
That protected ranking would be sufficient for Raducanu to enter the first major of 2027, according to Sports Yahoo.
Rusedski: 'Smart Play' to Skip Rest of Season
On his latest podcast, Rusedski called the extended break a smart play.
"If you think about it logically, what's the rush?" Rusedski said.
"She gets an extended off-season to get physically stronger, technically better and hit the ground running in 2027."
Rusedski said the longer preparation period could help Raducanu build momentum even without the protected-ranking provision.
He noted that most major events will have been completed by the time the season reaches its final stages.
"So even if there wasn't that protected ranking rule, if you're fit and doing all the right things then that gives you an impetus to push forward in 2027," he said.
"And all the big events are out of the way, apart from the end of season champs in the women's, that's the last goal that most of the big names want to get to."
Raducanu has reached two WTA Tour-level finals in 2026, at the Transylvania Open and Queen's Club Championships, according to Sports Yahoo.
Those results came during a season in which she played only 10 tournaments.
Rusedski pointed to Raducanu's performance at Queen's as evidence of her potential, while identifying sustained fitness as the key challenge after repeated interruptions.
"In my opinion, if she's healthy we saw what she can do at Queen's and now she's going to have a volume of work, and with that volume of work it's going to give her an opportunity to have a good year," Rusedski said.
"The big thing for Emma is can she stay healthy for an extended period of time, it's been too many stop-starts."
He said a sustained run of fitness could allow Raducanu to climb back toward the upper levels of the rankings, while warning that maintaining health is essential to competing consistently at the highest level.
"If she can get that extended period then she can get top 30, top 20, knocking back on the door to top 10, she's too good a player," he said.
"But if you're not healthy, no matter how talented or good you are, you can't sustain the very highest level in the men's or the women's game."
According to Sports Yahoo, Raducanu's 2026 results include a United Cup record of 0-1, a quarterfinal at the Hobart International and a second round at the Australian Open.
Her remaining listed results were a final at the Transylvania Open, first-round exits at the Qatar Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, Strasbourg Open and Roland Garros, a third round at Indian Wells, and a final at the Queen's Club Championships.
