Emma Raducanu’s plan to compete in the Abu Dhabi Open qualifiers has now been scrapped – but for good reason.
After Raducanu was beaten by Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open, the former British number one endured a disappointing three-set loss to Cristina Bucsa at the Singapore Open.
Now the 22-year-old is set to compete in her third tournament of the year where she will travel to the Middle East.
In Abu Dhabi Raducanu was set to enter the qualifiers at a tour event for the first time in her career, but that has now changed.
Emma Raducanu now set to enter the Abu Dhabi Open main draw
Emma Raducanu has not entered the qualifiers at any event since the 2021 US Open, which she famously went on to win.
That was due to change with reports stating that she was set to try and qualify for the Abu Dhabi Open.
However, it has now been confirmed by the tournament’s official Instagram page that Raducanu will now in fact be part of the main draw.
She was due to be handed a wildcard for the qualifying rounds in Abu Dhabi, but she has now been given a wildcard for direct entry into the main draw instead.
The Abu Dhabi Open will be the first tournament that Raducanu will compete in without Nick Cavaday as her coach, after he stepped down from the role due to health issues.
Has Emma Raducanu played at the Abu Dhabi Open before?
Raducanu has made one previous appearance at the Abu Dhabi Open.
That came in 2024, where the former World number 10 was also handed a wildcard to compete in the tournament’s main draw.
Raducanu began her campaign by defeating Marie Bouzková 6-4, 6-1, before facing Ons Jabeur in the next round.
In what is still their only meeting on the WTA Tour, the Tunisian defeated Raducanu 6-4, 6-1, the same scoreline Raducanu won by to set up that match.
Raducanu will be aiming for a much stronger run in Abu Dhabi this year, and it remains to be seen who her opponents will be as she waits on the result of Saturday’s draw.
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