Emma Raducanu is an injury doubt for next month’s Billie Jean King Cup after she pulled out of the upcoming Hong Kong Open.
The 21-year-old is yet to fully recover from the injury that forced her to retire from her quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina at the Korea Open a month ago, when she sprained ligaments in her left foot. She had earmarked a busy playing schedule in the Asia swing, but the problem subsequently kept her out of the China Open and has severely limited her time on court.
Raducanu’s spot at the Hong Kong Open, which starts next Monday, has been filled by American Sofia Kenin. The Briton is the second high-profile player to pull out of the event after Japan’s Naomi Osaka withdrew with ruptured abdominal muscles.
News of Raducanu’s latest withdrawal suggests she faces a race against time to be fit for next month’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Malaga, Spain, which start on November 13. The former US Open champion had been named in Britain’s five-strong team alongside Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and doubles specialist Olivia Nicholls.
Raducanu has fond memories of representing her country, having played a starring role in Great Britain’s win against France in the knockout stages earlier this year. On her second appearance for the team, Raducanu levelled the series when she staged a compelling comeback against Caroline Garcia, in what was her first first top-30 win on clay.
She had planned a flurry of activity in Asia after previously admitting that she had mismanaged her schedule following her first-round exit at the US Open.
Last week, in an interview with Women’s Health, she fired a warning shot to her rivals by saying she hoped to “do some damage” in 2025 as she bids to string together some continuity on court and overcome her long-documented injury struggles that have marred her since her Flushing Meadows success in 2021. Raducanu’s withdrawal last month in Seoul was her seventh retirement on the WTA tour, four of which came during her injury-hit season of 2022 before she underwent wrist and ankle surgery.
“Having been through such big changes, wellness to me now is the inner stillness I feel,” said Raducanu. “I’m prepared to work hard and do some damage next year. I want to work on becoming a better tennis player.”
While her scheduled appearance in Malaga might be up in the air, the good news is that Raducanu will not be under pressure to make a hurried decision over whether to compete, as captain Anne Keothavong can make as many as three changes up until a day before Britain’s first-round match against Germany.
Should she decide to withdraw, rising youngster Sonay Kartal could be an option to replace her on the team. The 22-year-old won her maiden WTA title in Tunisia earlier this year and has jumped more than 200 places in the rankings in just two and a half months to reach a career high of 94.
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