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Emma Raducanu ends her 2025 season early, withdrawing from Tokyo and Hong Kong due to injuries, but retains a top-30 ranking and eyes a 2026 comeback.
Emma Raducanu’s struggles with fitness continue to persist (X)
The going only keeps getting tougher for the tough Emma Raducanu.
The former U.S. Open champion has decided to cut short her 2025 season, withdrawing from her final two scheduled tournaments in Tokyo and Hong Kong due to ongoing physical issues, British media reported on Thursday.
Injury Woes Return
The decision to end her season follows a physically taxing stretch.
The 22-year-old Briton was forced to retire midway through two consecutive matches in Asia, reigniting concerns about her fitness.
Earlier this week, Raducanu fell 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to China’s Zhu Lin in her Ningbo opener after receiving on-court treatment for a back problem. That setback came just days after she pulled out of her Wuhan match against Ann Li while trailing 6-1, 4-1.
Signs of Progress Before Setback
Raducanu entered the Asian swing hoping to build on her encouraging performances at the U.S. Open, where she reached the third round — her deepest Grand Slam run since her sensational title triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
She produced two commanding wins in New York before bowing out to ninth seed Elena Rybakina.
Earlier in the season, Raducanu appeared to have rediscovered her rhythm, reaching the Miami Open quarter-finals and the Washington Open semi-finals.
She amassed 28 match wins in 2025, signaling her most consistent year since turning professional.
Looking Ahead: Recovery and Stability
Despite the abrupt end to her campaign, Raducanu is expected to retain a top-30 ranking, giving her a strong chance of being seeded at the 2026 Australian Open.
British outlets also reported that she intends to continue working with Spanish coach Francisco Roig, who joined her team earlier this year.
Roig, a former member of Rafael Nadal’s coaching staff, has brought much-needed stability to Raducanu’s camp following a turbulent few years marked by frequent coaching changes.
A Career Still Taking Shape
Since her meteoric rise as a teenager, Raducanu’s career has been plagued by injuries — from wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023 to recurring back and fitness concerns in 2024 and 2025.
As she shifts focus to recovery, Raducanu will hope that a fully fit and refreshed start in 2026 can finally bring the consistency that has eluded her since her Grand Slam title win.
(with Reuters inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
October 16, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
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