Emma Raducanu withdraws from United Cup match
Emma Raducanu pulled out of her opening match at the United Cup in Perth just hours before she was scheduled to face Naomi Osaka on Sunday, reports BritPanorama.
The British number one, currently ranked 29th in the world, withdrew from the contest against the four-time grand slam champion due to a foot problem that has been troubling her.
Team GB captain Tim Henman disclosed how close the 23-year-old came to competing. Henman told Australian broadcaster Nine: “I’ve got to be honest, she was very, very close. It was not an easy decision. She had been building up and practising really well.”
Katie Swan stepped in as Raducanu’s replacement for the tie against Japan. Despite Raducanu’s absence, Great Britain opened their United Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Japan. Billy Harris, who stepped into the squad following Jack Draper’s withdrawal, delivered a crucial singles victory by defeating Shintaro Mochizuki 7-6 (4) 6-3. Swan, however, fell to Osaka 7-6 (4) 6-1 in straight sets.
The tie came down to the mixed doubles, where Neal Skupski and Olivia Nicholls edged past Yasutaka Uchiyama and Nao Hibino in a tense encounter, prevailing 7-5 4-6 10-7 in the match tie-break. Henman declared courtside after the win: “I couldn’t be happier, I couldn’t be prouder as a captain. We’re going to enjoy this moment and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow night.”
Raducanu remains in contention for Great Britain’s next Group E fixture against Greece on Monday, where she could face Maria Sakkari. Henman indicated the situation remains fluid heading into the second tie.
He explained: “In terms of tomorrow, it’s still a little bit up in the air. We’re forced to put Emma on the list because if we didn’t do that, then that only gives us one option. When we get back tonight, we’ll discuss it as a team.” The captain also provided an update on her condition. Henman said: “She struggled with her foot at the end of last year. The improvement she’s made has been fantastic. She’s very close.”
The Australian Open commences in Melbourne on January 18.
Raducanu’s recent withdrawal highlights the ongoing challenges she has faced with injuries throughout her career. Still, the focus shifts to the forthcoming matches where her potential involvement could prove pivotal for Team GB.
