Raducanu Withdraws From Two More Events But Does Not End 2024 Season

Emma Raducanu’s injury woes have continued to disrupt her season, leading to several withdrawals, but the British tennis star remains determined to make a comeback before the year ends.

Raducanu had been hoping to play extensively in the Asian swing, aiming for strong performances after facing criticism for her decisions during the North American hardcourt season.

The 21-year-old showed promise in North America by reaching the quarterfinals of the Citi Open, where she narrowly lost to eventual champion Paula Badosa in Washington. However, her choice not to participate in the qualifying rounds of the Canadian Open or Cincinnati Open left many fans and pundits surprised. This meant she went three weeks without playing before her first-round match at the US Open, a decision that may have cost her. She was eliminated in three sets by Sofia Kenin, a former champion at Flushing Meadows.

Among her critics was former world No.1 Andy Roddick, who questioned her lack of match play ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year. Learning from that experience, Raducanu planned a busier schedule for the Asian swing, starting with the Korea Open. She made a promising start, reaching the quarterfinals with wins over Peyton Stearns and Yue Yuan.

Unfortunately, Raducanu’s progress was halted once again. During her quarterfinal match against Daria Kasatkina, she was forced to retire after just 31 minutes due to a foot injury that had troubled her throughout the first set.

Following the match, Raducanu revealed on social media that she had sprained ligaments in her foot, causing her to withdraw from the China Open and the WTA-1000 tournament in Wuhan. She was also set to compete in the WTA 500 Ningbo Open and the WTA 250 Guangzhou Open, but her injury ruled her out of those events as well.

Raducanu was recently spotted in London at Great Ormond Street Hospital, wearing a protective boot on her injured foot, fueling speculation that her season might be over. Other players, such as Ons Jabeur and Maria Sakkari, have opted to end their seasons early to focus on recovery.

However, Raducanu is still hopeful of returning to the court before the season concludes. She is on the entry list for the Hong Kong Open and has not yet withdrawn, keeping her options open for a late-season comeback.

One of the main reasons for her determination could be the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Great Britain pulled off an impressive victory over France in the qualifiers in April, with Raducanu playing a crucial role. She delivered two standout performances on clay, defeating Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry, despite clay being her weakest surface.

With Great Britain set to face Germany in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on November 15th, and a potential showdown with defending champions Canada if they advance, Raducanu’s return could significantly boost her team’s chances.