Emma Raducanu Forced to Withdraw from US Exhibition Matches
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from her scheduled exhibition matches in the United States due to a foot injury. The British No1 was set to compete against her close friend, Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova, in events scheduled for Newark and Miami next month.
Precautionary Withdrawal and Missed Partnership
A statement from the event organisers confirmed the news, noting that Jessica Pegula will replace Emma Raducanu after she dropped her participation. According to sources, the decision is a precautionary measure due to minor bone bruising in her right foot.
The withdrawal means fans will miss a highly anticipated repeat of Raducanu's mega-star partnership with Carlos Alcaraz. The pair had debuted their successful mixed doubles collaboration at the US Open earlier this year.
Focus on Recovery and Pre-Season Plans
Raducanu, who recently celebrated her 23rd birthday, and her team decided it was wiser not to disrupt her planned pre-season training with coach Francis Roig. This caution is understandable for a player with her injury history, and committing to an off-season exhibition event was perhaps not the most prudent move initially.
The foot issue follows recent struggles with back pain during her last competitive match in Ningbo, China, which led her to end her season early. With these exhibition matches now cancelled, the sole focus is on ensuring she arrives in Australia fully fit for the next season.
To aid her recovery, Raducanu has begun working with a new physio, Emma Stewart, who previously worked with the gold-medal winning men's squad for British Rowing during the Paris 2024 Olympic cycle.
