Emma Raducanu isn’t giving up on making her debut at the United Cup after withdrawing from her opening match on Sunday.
The Brit was scheduled to take on former world No.1 Naomi Osaka in what was a highly anticipated encounter in Perth. However, shortly before the match was scheduled to start, Raducanu pulled out and was replaced by Katie Swan, who lost 7-6 (4), 6-1 to Osaka.
During the off-season, Raducanu also pulled out of two exhibition events due to a minor foot injury before heading to Barcelona for a training block. She has just two weeks to get back in shape before the Australian Open begins.
“I have to be honest, she was very close,” British team captain Tim Henman told Australian broadcaster Nine.
“It wasn’t an easy decision. She had been building up and practising really well. But we just felt this morning it was a little bit too early.”
The 23-year-old has been hampered by various injury setbacks since winning the US Open in 2021. However, Raducanu recently said she was heading in the right direction following a promising 2024 season, during which she reached the semi-finals of the Citi Open in Washington, as well as the third round in three out of her last four Grand Slams played.
“I think, at the end of the day, it’s a team event and Katie’s playing great so it gives me an extra day,” Raducanu commented on her latest withdrawal without going into her current physical fitness.
Despite Raducanu’s absence and Swan’s defeat, Great Britain still managed to beat Japan 2-1. In the men’s singles, Billy Harris shook off a recent bout of illness leading up to the event to defeat Shintaro Mochizuki 7-6(4), 6-3. Then, in the mixed doubles, Neal Skupski and Olivia Nicholls ousted Yasutaka Uchiyama and Nao Hibino 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.
Raducanu’s next scheduled match is against Maria Sakkari when Britain faces Greece.
AloJapan.com