Emma Raducanu Withdraws from China Open After Foot Injury Setback

Emma Raducanu's return to form has hit another roadblock, with the British tennis star forced to pull out of this week’s China Open in Beijing due to a foot injury. The 21-year-old, who had been gaining momentum on the WTA Tour, sustained the injury during her Korea Open quarter-final match against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, causing her to retire after losing the first set.

Despite initially appearing in the China Open draw, Raducanu withdrew shortly after, confirming on social media platform X that she had sprained ligaments in her foot. "Unfortunately, I sprained some ligaments in my foot which need more time to heal," Raducanu wrote. "It means I can't play in Beijing but I hope to be back competing as soon as I can."

This latest setback is particularly disappointing for Raducanu, who was on the verge of breaking back into the WTA Top 50 after a series of promising results. At the Korea Open, she advanced to the quarter-finals with victories over higher-ranked opponents, American Peyton Stearns and China’s Yue Yuan, showcasing glimpses of the form that took her to the US Open title in 2021.

Injury Interrupts Momentum as Raducanu Climbs the Rankings

Raducanu’s injury woes are unfortunately familiar, as she has struggled with fitness since her historic US Open triumph. After multiple surgeries last year on both wrists and her left ankle, the British number two had been steadily working her way back up the rankings. Her recent performances in Seoul were especially encouraging, as she secured two confidence-boosting wins before the foot injury derailed her campaign.

The Korea Open marked her return to competitive action after a first-round exit at the US Open in late August. Raducanu had taken a measured approach to her scheduling this season, playing just one tournament between Wimbledon and the US Open, learning from the mistakes of an over-packed schedule earlier in her career. Despite the "niggles" she mentioned after her victory over Yue Yuan, Raducanu had expressed growing "trust" in her body following months of hard physical training.

Her progress this season has seen her rise back to 54th in the world rankings—her highest position since August 2022, when the points from her US Open victory were wiped from the rankings. After an injury-riddled 2022, this year has already seen Raducanu play 33 matches, just three short of her season-best tally set last year.

Foot Injury Clouds Upcoming Schedule

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Raducanu, who was scheduled to face a qualifier in the first round in Beijing, with a potential second-round clash against Chinese fifth seed Zheng Qinwen. It also casts doubt on her participation in the upcoming Wuhan Open, set to begin on October 7. Raducanu remains optimistic about her recovery but has not provided a definitive timeline for her return to the court.

This foot injury adds to a long list of setbacks that have interrupted Raducanu’s young career. After her meteoric rise to fame as a teenage qualifier winning the 2021 US Open, injuries have prevented her from building the consistency needed to climb back to the upper echelons of the sport. However, her recent performances suggest she still has the potential to regain her place among the WTA’s elite, provided she can stay healthy.

Eyes on the Future

As Raducanu continues her recovery, her focus will undoubtedly be on returning to the tour stronger and more resilient. While the China Open withdrawal is a blow, her journey back to the top is far from over. Raducanu has shown she possesses not only the talent but also the tenacity to navigate the ups and downs of professional tennis.

For British tennis fans, all eyes will be on her recovery and whether she can resume her climb in time for the European indoor season. For now, Raducanu’s focus will be on getting her body right, as she continues to balance the pressures of her young career with the demanding physical toll of the sport.

As Raducanu herself put it after her Korea Open matches, "It's a lesson to learn" — one that she will undoubtedly carry forward as she looks to return to the form that captivated the tennis world just two years ago.