Emma Raducanu, the 21-year-old British tennis sensation, has been forced to withdraw from this week’s China Open in Beijing due to a foot injury. Raducanu, who was scheduled to compete after her run in the Korea Open, made the announcement shortly after the tournament draw was released on Monday, leaving fans and followers once again concerned about her fitness.
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Raducanu’s injury woes resurfaced during the Korea Open in Seoul, where she had to retire from her quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina. After taking a medical timeout following five games, Raducanu was unable to continue and pulled out after losing the opening set. The British number two revealed on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that she had sprained ligaments in her foot, an injury that requires more time to heal.
“I sprained some ligaments in my foot which unfortunately need some more time to heal,” Raducanu wrote. “It means I can’t play in Beijing but I hope to be back competing as soon as I can.” This setback comes at a time when Raducanu was poised to re-enter the world’s top 50, marking a significant milestone after a challenging period filled with injuries.
A Rollercoaster of Injuries and Recovery
Raducanu’s current ranking of 54th marks her highest position since August 2022, when the points from her historic 2021 US Open victory as a teenage qualifier were removed. The young Briton’s journey back to form has been anything but smooth. She missed most of the previous season due to multiple injuries, including surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle, which sidelined her for an extended period.
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Raducanu’s return to the tour at the beginning of this year was seen as a fresh start. She has played 33 matches on the WTA Tour this season, just three shy of her total matches in 2022, which remains her busiest season to date. While her performances have been inconsistent, they have shown signs of promise. Notably, Raducanu managed to win two matches at the Korea Open, defeating higher-ranked players Peyton Stearns and Yue Yuan, which pushed her back towards the top 50.
However, Raducanu’s season has been punctuated by stops and starts. After losing in the first round of the US Open in August, she played just one tournament between Wimbledon in July and the US Open. During a tearful news conference following her US Open loss, Raducanu admitted that her sparse scheduling had been a “lesson to learn.”
The Battle to Regain Form and Confidence
Raducanu’s journey back to the top echelons of women’s tennis has been a test of both physical and mental resilience. After her stellar 2021 season, which saw her rise to global fame with her unexpected US Open triumph, the Briton has struggled to find the consistency and fitness needed to stay at the highest level. Despite her injury troubles, Raducanu has been working diligently on her physical conditioning.
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“I’ve been working hard – especially at the start of the year and the mid part of the year – physically,” Raducanu said after her second-round win in Korea. She also acknowledged that she has been “nursing a few niggles” in recent months but felt a renewed sense of trust in her body’s ability to perform.
The withdrawal from Beijing is a significant blow, especially given Raducanu’s recent progress. She was set to face a qualifier in the first round, with a potential second-round clash against China’s fifth seed, Zheng Qinwen. Missing the opportunity to compete in such a high-profile tournament adds another hurdle in her quest to regain her peak form.
Looking Ahead: Eyes on Wuhan
Raducanu’s next scheduled tournament is the Wuhan Open in China on October 7, where she hopes to make her comeback. With each setback, the pressure on Raducanu grows, but the young star remains determined to fight her way back to the top. The tennis world will be watching closely to see if she can recover in time and continue her journey of resurgence.
As she navigates this latest challenge, Raducanu’s story serves as a reminder of the physical demands and pressures faced by young athletes at the highest levels of sport. The path back to the top is rarely straightforward, but with her undeniable talent and resilience, Emma Raducanu’s journey is far from over. Fans worldwide continue to rally behind her, hopeful that she can return stronger and more determined than ever.
