Emma Raducanu, the British tennis star and 2021 US Open champion, has unfortunately had to withdraw from two exhibition matches scheduled for December due to a heel injury. The 23-year-old was expected to compete in singles against World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova in New Jersey and participate in mixed doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz in Miami on December 7 and 8. Jessica Pegula, currently ranked 5th, will step in for Raducanu.
This injury follows a turbulent end to Raducanu’s season, where she also pulled out of her final two tournaments due to a back issue and an undisclosed health concern, which prompted blood pressure checks during matches. Despite these setbacks, her management team remains optimistic that the recent bone bruise will not hinder her preparation for the upcoming season.
Raducanu plans to head to Barcelona for a training block under the guidance of her coach, Francis Roig, whose contract has been extended into next year. Along with this, Raducanu has hired a new physiotherapist, Emma Stewart. Stewart brings a wealth of experience, having worked with the British Rowing team at the Paris 2024 Olympics and with the WTA and LTA previously. She is set to accompany Raducanu at tournaments, tasked with both physiotherapy and fitness training.
Last season, Jane O’Donoghue, a former LTA coach, assisted Raducanu but is facing limitations in her availability due to a return to her finance career. Raducanu’s relationship with O’Donoghue has been likened to that of siblings, suggesting a strong personal support system.
Raducanu’s current trajectory has shown promise; her ranking improved from No. 56 to No. 29 during the previous season, positioning her as a seed for the Australian Open starting January 18. She is also slated to represent Great Britain in the upcoming United Cup alongside Jack Draper, with matches against Japan and Greece in Perth.
Having taken a brief hiatus, Raducanu resumed training at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre, making the decision to withdraw from the exhibition matches likely a precautionary one, despite potential earnings loss estimated around £500,000. Instead of competing, she will concentrate on her training ahead of her trip to Australia later in December.
In her time away from the court, Raducanu has explored other sports, recently attending an England rugby union training session under the watchful eye of head coach Steve Borthwick, and witnessing England’s victory over New Zealand at Twickenham—an event that marked a significant achievement for the team.
As Raducanu prepares for the next chapter of her career, her focus remains on returning strong for the new season and making her mark once again on the global tennis stage.
