Emma Raducanu omitted from Billie Jean King Cup squad as injury concerns deepen
Emma Raducanu has been omitted from Great Britain’s squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen next September, deepening concerns about the British number one’s fitness ahead of the US Open, reports BritPanorama.
The 23-year-old’s ongoing recovery from a stress fracture in her lower right leg — the injury that forced her withdrawal from Wimbledon mere hours before play commenced — has left her unable to take her place in the team.
Raducanu has not competed since 14 June and remains sidelined six weeks on. She has also confirmed she will not feature at the Canadian Open. With the US Open beginning on 30 August, a tournament she memorably captured as an 18-year-old in 2021, her participation at Flushing Meadows now appears increasingly doubtful.
Captain Anne Keothavong has turned to Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic, and Jodie Burrage for the finals, which run from 22 to 27 September. The squad largely mirrors the line-up that secured Britain’s place in the finals by defeating Australia in Melbourne earlier this year, with Boulter — the world number 69 — coming in for Katie Swan.
British number three Fran Jones was not selected, while Sonay Kartal is also unavailable due to fitness issues. Keothavong told the LTA website: “I’m pleased to select Katie Boulter, who knows what it’s like to step up on occasions like this, and the three women who played with so much heart and courage to upset Australia earlier this year.” She added: “Czechia will be a very challenging first match for us but the players and I believe in our chances, since we have a very strong record in recent finals.”
Raducanu’s season had been gathering genuine momentum before the stress fracture derailed her progress. Her run to the Queen’s final had marked the finest grass-court performance of her career, only for a defeat to Donna Vekic to represent her last competitive outing. Shortly afterwards, the stress fracture was diagnosed, forcing her to pull out of the Championships at the eleventh hour.
In the weeks since, there has been no indication of a return to training. She has been seen on crutches away from the court. Raducanu has now confirmed her absence from the Canadian Open, and while no official statement has been made regarding the US Open, her prospects of competing there look bleak.
Britain heads to Shenzhen boasting an enviable recent pedigree in the competition, having reached the semi-finals in three of the past four seasons. Their opening quarter-final pits them against 11-time champions the Czech Republic, whose squad includes Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
There remains the possibility of adding a fifth player closer to the tournament, which leaves the door theoretically ajar for Raducanu. However, her absence will nonetheless be keenly felt. Since making her BJK Cup debut in 2022, Raducanu has compiled a remarkable 6-1 singles record for her country, with victories over the likes of Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry.
Broader questions now loom over the remainder of her 2026 campaign, with no confirmed timeline for her return and the Asian hard-court swing — a stretch she has traditionally favoured — also in jeopardy.
With Raducanu now missing major tournaments, it emphasizes how fragile the balance between sports excellence and physical resilience can be, underlining the unpredictable nature of a professional athlete’s career.
