Emma Raducanu breaks silence on latest tournament withdrawal and makes intentions clear | Tennis | Sport

Raducanu is still in Britain’s squad for next month’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals. She hoped to use the Hong Kong Open to get some last matches in before the team tournament.

But her withdrawal has now left her BJK Cup hopes in doubt. Confirming her absence from next week’s WTA 250 event, Raducanu also shared her intentions to represent her country next month.

“Hellooo, I’m sorry to say that I will not be able to play in Hong Kong next week,” the 21-year-old wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Whilst my foot is making good progress, I need a little more time before I am match fit. I hope to be able to come back and play this tournament in the future! In the meantime, I am doing what I can to be ready for BJKC.”

Team GB will face Germany at the BJK Cup Finals on November 15, giving Raducanu just over three weeks to prepare. The former world No. 10 was named in the squad alongside Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls.

However, team captain Anne Keothavong can make up to three changes until the day before their first match. It means Raducanu can wait until the last minute to pull out and be replaced by another player.

The Hong Kong Open is the latest tournament Raducanu has been forced to skip after spraining ligaments in her foot. The 2021 US Open champion has also missed the WTA 1000 in Beijing, Wuhan Open qualifying, the Guangzhou Open and the Ningbo Open.

Raducanu’s Hong Kong Open withdrawal came just days after the 21-year-old confirmed she would be competing via social media.

On Thursday, she shared a video message to fans and said: “Hello everyone, it’s Emma Raducanu here. I really cannot wait to come and play the Prudential Women’s Hong Kong Open.

“It’s my first time playing the WTA event there, but I was there in December last year and I really loved the city. So I’m very much looking forward to coming and I hope to see you all there in October.”