Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this month’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, joining Naomi Osaka, who also had to pull out due to injury just one day prior. Raducanu’s decision comes as she continues to recover from a foot injury that forced her retirement ahead of her quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina at the Korea Open last month.
The 20-year-old Brit has already missed several tournaments during the WTA’s Asian swing, including the China Open and events in Wuhan, Ningbo, and Guangzhou. American Sofia Kenin, a fellow Grand Slam champion, will take her place at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium event, scheduled to start next Monday.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Raducanu expressed her disappointment, stating, “I’m sorry not to be playing in the tournament. My foot is making good progress, but I need a little more time to become match fit. I hope to return and play this tournament in the future.”
Sofia Kenin, currently ranked 26th in the world, is competing in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week, where she faces Clara Tauson in the round of 16. Tauson, the Danish No. 2, recently finished as the runner-up in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 event earlier this month.
Raducanu’s withdrawal isn’t surprising given her ongoing struggles with fitness since her stunning victory over Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open final. Fans had anticipated a potential rematch between the two players in Hong Kong, where Fernandez is the defending champion. Since that memorable final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Raducanu has advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam only once, making it to the fourth round at Wimbledon in July.
Last week, Raducanu shared her aspirations for the future in a magazine interview, expressing her determination to improve her game. “Having been through such big changes, wellness to me now is the inner stillness I feel. I’m prepared to work hard and do some damage next year,” she said. Currently ranked No. 55 in the world, she focuses on becoming a better player in 2025.
In a related development, the China Tennis Association Tour will return to Hong Kong next month, following its successful debut last year. An eight-day tournament will take place at Victoria Park from November 10 to 17, featuring around 150 players from mainland China. Notable participants include Zhang Shuai, who has achieved a high ranking of No. 2 in women’s doubles, and Sun Fajing, the runner-up in the men’s doubles at the 2021 National Games.
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