Emma Raducanu withdraws from Qatar Open due to health issues
Emma Raducanu was forced to pull out of the Qatar Open on Monday, having her blood pressure checked on court during her match. The decision was made after she struggled to regain her composure, ultimately leading to her withdrawal from the competition, reports BritPanorama.
The 23-year-old had only participated in the tournament two days after losing to Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final, a match in which she won merely two games. That contest was also marred by health concerns, as Raducanu required a medical timeout during play.
During her match at the Qatar Open, Raducanu secured her first set at the third attempt but faltered after being broken midway through the second set. Following a visit from a doctor after dropping her serve in the third, she competed in one more game but appeared visibly hampered and struggled to move.
Ultimately, at 2-6, 6-4, 0-2, Raducanu decided to forfeit her match against Camila Osorio, allowing her opponent to advance to the next round. The British tennis star has yet to publicly address her health concerns, raising questions as she deals with two health scares within 48 hours alongside several troubling moments from the previous season.
After her defeat against Cirstea, Raducanu mentioned the ongoing health issues, stating, “It was obviously really tough. I think Sorana played a great match for sure, and I’ve kind of… yeah, just been kind of dealing with some health… just not feeling great this week.” She further elaborated, “I’ve just been a bit ill this week… so for today I just felt like energy-wise that I didn’t really have much energy.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Raducanu’s run to the final of the Transylvania Open showcased her returning prowess, hinting at the potential that led to her US Open victory nearly five years ago. As she works on her recovery from this latest health challenge, the tennis world will be watching closely to see how she fares in the remaining season ahead.
It’s a reminder of the fine line athletes tread between elite performance and personal well-being. For Raducanu, recovering from these challenges is as important as any victory on the court.
