Emma Raducanu’s run at the Qatar Open was a short-lived one, as she retired in her first-round match against Camila Osorio.
Many had initially questioned the decision to play at all in this event after she had played the final in Romania on Saturday.
Alas, the 22-year-old clearly felt confident in her ability to perform and thus made the journey.
The fact that Sorana Cirstea, her fellow finalist, did not travel speaks volumes about the intelligence of this move.
Will Emma Raducanu ever win another Grand Slam title?
Emma Raducanu snatched the first set, but began to slump as she lost the second. Then, falling down an early break in the third, and after a check-up from the doctor, she called time on the match.
This raises the question: why did she bother travelling at all?
Emma Raducanu’s strange decision backfired after retiring in Doha
Raducanu is arguably one of the most unfairly criticised players on the entire WTA Tour, often lambasted for her inability to live up to her greatest moment in 2021.
Winning the US Open was a fairytale, yet it has been used as a stick to bash her with in the years that have followed.
Should women play best-of-five sets at Grand Slams?
However, that does not mean she should be completely exempt from all criticism, and perhaps the decision to play the Qatar Open is one that needs scrutinising.
Raducanu delivered an update on her fitness after the Transylvania Open final, admitting that she was ill. To then go straight from Romania to Doha to play her sixth match in eight days was never going to work out well, adding to this health scare.
At least the British number one should now have ample time to recover ahead of the next Masters 1000 event in Dubai.
Emma Raducanu’s ranking continues to rise despite issues
Whilst Raducanu’s decision to rush from Romania to Qatar remains a strange one, she will still receive yet another rankings boost from this one match.
After all, her mere appearance at this event, which she did not play last year, has helped her rise to 25th in the live WTA rankings.
The Brit has enjoyed a steady upward surge over the last year, with consistency in her results helping her slowly climb the table.
The hope is that, with more runs like the one she enjoyed last week, a spot in the top 20 will come soon.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
