Emma Raducanu was unable to take to the court for her scheduled first match of the 2026 season.
Raducanu made some big improvements in 2025, which enabled her to return to the top 30 in the WTA rankings.
However, fitness was still an issue for the 2021 US Open champion, with Raducanu ending her season early in China.
Despite this, Raducanu had provided a positive fitness update ahead of the 2026 season, but she was forced to withdraw from her first match of the year.
Tim Henman provides update on Emma Raducanu’s injury
Raducanu was scheduled to make her debut at the United Cup in Great Britain’s opening tie against Japan.
Great Britain, who had already lost Jack Draper due to injury, were then dealt another blow after it was announced that Raducanu could also not compete in her match against Naomi Osaka.
After world number 276 Katie Swan filled Raducanu’s place, Tim Henman was asked by Australian news outlet Nine about what was really going on.
While he did not detail the actual injury that Raducanu was struggling with, Henman suggested that it was nothing too serious.
“I got to be honest, she was very, very close [to playing],” said Henman. “It was not any easy decision. She had been building up and practicing really well. I don’t think she is necessarily out of this tournament just yet.”
Raducanu now has just one day to prepare for Great Britain’s second tie against Greece, where she is scheduled to play against former world number three Maria Sakkari.
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Grand Slam champion says what he finds ‘strange’ about Emma Raducanu
Since Raducanu won the US Open title in 2021, she has faced many struggles with injury and was even forced to undergo surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle in 2023.
When reacting to the news of Raducanu’s withdrawal from her match against Osaka, nine-time Grand Slam doubles champion John Fitzgerald described her career as ‘strange’, before wishing her well ahead of the 2026 season.
“It has been a strange sort of career for Emma,” said Fitzgerald. “Her US Open win … that was one of the most amazing things that has happened in tennis. She qualified [into the main draw] then won the whole thing, that is unheard of.
“She has had too many injuries and a bit of bad luck that hasn’t let her have a good run. Let’s hope she can get that together in 2026.”
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While Raducanu only has one day to prepare for her next scheduled match, she is also entered into the Hobart International next week as the second seed.
Whether she plays any matches ahead of the Australian Open may be clarified after the conclusion of Great Britain’s tie against Japan in Perth.
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