Emma Raducanu Withdraws from Hong Kong Open Amid Ongoing Injury Struggles

Emma Raducanu's Continued Injury Struggles

Emma Raducanu has become the latest player to drop out of this month’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, just 24 hours after Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw through injury. Raducanu, who has been recovering from the foot injury that forced her to retire ahead of her Korea Open quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina a month ago, has already missed four tournaments on the WTA’s Asian swing; the China Open, and events in Wuhan, Ningbo, and this week in Guangzhou. Her spot at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium event, which starts next Monday, has been filled by another grand slam winner, the Moscow-born American Sofia Kenin.

Kenin's Entry and Future Prospects

The 25-year-old, who is ranked 26th in the world, is playing in this week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she will face Clara Tauson of Denmark in the round of 16 on Wednesday. The Danish No 2, who lost in the final of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 earlier this month to Ajla Tomljanovic, is also expected to return to Causeway Bay for the WTA 250 event.

Raducanu’s withdrawal is not all that surprising given her battles to stay fit ever since she beat Leylah Fernandez in her shock US Open triumph in 2021. Fans had hoped to see the pair renew their rivalry in Hong Kong, where Fernandez is defending champion.

But since the final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium three years ago, the 21-year-old from London has only advanced beyond the second round of a grand slam once, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in July. Last week, the young Briton, who has dropped to No 55 in the world, said in a magazine interview that she hoped to do some damage in 2025.

“Having been through such big changes, wellness to me now is the inner stillness I feel,” she said. “I’m prepared to work hard and do some damage next year. I want to work on becoming a better tennis player.”

China Tennis Association Tour Returns

Separately, the China Tennis Association Tour is returning to Hong Kong next month, after making its debut in the city last year. An eight-day tournament will run at the Victoria Park from November 10 to 17, with around 150 tennis players from mainland China competing in the top-tier national-level event. This year’s tournament includes the likes of Zhang Shuai, who has climbed as high as No 2 in the world in women’s doubles, as well as 2021 National Games men’s doubles runner-up Sun Fajing.