Emma Raducanu faces race to be fit for BJK Cup finals after latest withdrawal

Emma Raducanu has officially withdrawn from next week’s Hong Kong Open, making it five tournaments in a row that she has had to miss due to ongoing fitness issues. The 21-year-old, currently ranked World No. 55, announced her decision on X, citing a lack of match readiness as the primary reason for her absence.

Raducanu hasn’t stepped onto the court since her retirement during the quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina at the Korea Open last month, where she revealed she suffered a ligament sprain in her foot. In her statement, she expressed her disappointment, saying, “I’m sorry to say that I will not be able to play in Hong Kong next week. While my foot is making good progress, I need a little more time before I am match fit.”

Looking ahead, she aims to be ready for the Billie Jean King Cup finals, where Team Britain will face Germany on November 15. The winner of that match will then compete against the reigning champions, Canada, in the quarter-finals.

Despite her struggles, Raducanu emphasized that she is “doing what I can” to regain her fitness, a process that has been challenging since her remarkable US Open win in 2021. Since then, she has faced a series of injuries, particularly to her ankle and wrist, some of which have required surgical intervention.