Emma Raducanu has suffered another setback in her injury recovery after withdrawing from the upcoming WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing.
The British tennis star had initially appeared on the entry list for the China Open, which is scheduled to take place between September 30 and October 11.
However, Raducanu has now pulled out of the prestigious event as uncertainty continues to surround when she will make her competitive return.
It represents the latest blow in a hugely frustrating season for the 2021 US Open champion, who has not played since reaching the WTA 500 final at Queen’s in June.
Raducanu subsequently suffered a stress fracture in her leg ahead of Wimbledon and was forced to miss the biggest tournament of the British tennis calendar.
Her absence from the All England Club was especially painful after her encouraging run at Queen’s had seemingly left her well placed to make an impact on home soil.
Emma Raducanu has suffered another setback in her injury recovery after withdrawing from the upcoming WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing
|
GETTY
The injury then ruled Raducanu out of the entire North American hard-court swing, preventing her from building any momentum during another important section of the season.
Most significantly, the 23-year-old was unable to compete at the US Open – the tournament where she completed her extraordinary breakthrough by winning the title as a qualifier in 2021.
Five things to know about British tennis star Emma Raducanu | PA
Missing both Wimbledon and the US Open meant Raducanu was absent from two of the four Grand Slams and the events carrying the greatest personal significance to her career.
There had recently been encouraging signs after she resumed training at the Lawn Tennis Association’s facilities.
But her withdrawal from Beijing indicates that Raducanu is not yet ready to test her leg in the demands of a competitive WTA match.
There has been no confirmation of a fresh injury or recurrence of the stress fracture. Nevertheless, another missed tournament constitutes a setback as the remaining opportunities to return this year begin to disappear.
Emma Raducanu finished runner-up at Queens before being forced to miss Wimbledon
|
GETTYAttention will now turn towards the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan, the next major competition on the Asian swing.
It remains unclear whether Raducanu will attempt to compete there or continue her rehabilitation before targeting a later return.
With the end of the WTA season approaching, the former US Open champion and her team must decide whether the benefits of playing again in 2026 outweigh the risks of rushing her comeback.
Waiting until the closing weeks of the campaign remains one possibility, while delaying her return until 2027 cannot currently be ruled out.
