Emma Raducanu's challenging Asian swing continued at the Wuhan Open on Tuesday, as the British tennis star retired from her first-round match against American Ann Li due to illness. Trailing 6-1, 4-1, Raducanu cited dizziness and had her blood pressure checked before withdrawing from the WTA 1000 event.
The match took place in stifling conditions, with temperatures reaching 31°C and 67% humidity in Wuhan. Raducanu struggled throughout, committing 15 unforced errors in the first set compared to just three winners. Her forehand in particular was erratic, and she lost all three service games in the opening set.
This retirement follows two heartbreaking defeats in previous tournaments. Raducanu held three match points against Barbora Krejcikova in Seoul and Jessica Pegula in Beijing, only to lose both matches in three sets. The 22-year-old had expressed excitement about competing in Asia, but this marks her worst run of results since February.
Raducanu's movement appeared laboured in the second set, and she double-faulted four times in the opening game before eventually holding serve. However, she then double-faulted on break point at 1-3, handing Li a double break. Shortly after, she called for the doctor and retired.
The British player is scheduled to compete in the Ningbo Open next week, followed by the Hong Kong Open. She has added Daniel Pohl, a prominent German physio, to her team to assist with fitness, as she has been without a dedicated fitness trainer since April.
