Emma Raducanu pulls out of two events as Carlos Alcaraz denied reunion with Brit | Tennis | Sport
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from two exhibition events in America after picking up a minor injury – but has hired a new physiotherapist as she heads into pre-season. The British No. 1 was set to face Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova in Newark and Miami next month, with Carlos Alcaraz also competing at both exhibition tournaments.
Raducanu has been replaced by world No. 6 Jessica Pegula, who will also join forces with Alcaraz in a star-studded, 10-point tiebreak against Anisimova and Joao Fonseca at the Miami Invitational.
Tournament organisers announced Raducanu’s withdrawal in a statement released on Monday. “Pegula will replace Emma Raducanu who dropped her participation due to injury,” it read.
The 23-year-old is understood to be dealing with light bone bruising in her right foot. Raducanu has also started working with a new physiotherapist, Emma Stewart, who was physio for the men’s squad at British Rowing, who have enjoyed huge Olympic success.
‘A Racquet at The Rock’ will be staged in the New Jersey Prudential Centre on December 7. World No. 4 Anisimova will now face Pegula in the first singles match, before Alcaraz takes on American star Frances Tiafoe.
The Miami Invitational takes place a day later, with two singles matches – Pegula vs Anisimova and Alcaraz vs Fonseca – before the blockbuster mixed doubles match tiebreak. Raducanu had already teamed up with Alcaraz at the US Open mixed doubles event, and they have been denied a reunion in Miami.
Raducanu has not played a match since she suffered a first-round defeat in Ningbo more than a month ago. The world No. 29 had her vitals taken during the match and suffered a three-set defeat.
The former US Open champion later ended her 2025 season early, withdrawing from her last two tournaments of the year due to health reasons. It is understood that Raducanu had been playing through illness during the Asian swing – she also retired in the first round of the Wuhan Open.
The 23-year-old has already committed to starting her 2026 season at the United Cup, a mixed-gender team tournament which takes place across Perth and Sydney. Raducanu will team up with Jack Draper, Billy Harris, Lloyd Glasspool, Mimi Xu, and Olivia Nicholls to represent Team GB.
The Brits have been drawn in Group E along with Greece and Japan, whose teams are led by Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Naomi Osaka and Shintaro Mochizuki, respectively.
Raducanu is currently enjoying her off-season after agreeing to extend her partnership with Spanish coach Francis Roig. The Brit recently celebrated her 23rd birthday and was spotted watching England beat the All Blacks at Twickenham over the weekend.
