Raducanu hit by more injury woe
The back injury that prompted Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal from the Miami Open is “nothing serious”, according to her representatives.
The 21-year-old, who was given a wild card for the prestigious WTA tournament, was set to play China’s Wang Xiyu in the first round yesterday.
However, pain in her lower back caused Raducanu to pull out, with the Kent star unwilling to take any risks.
It is another blow for Raducanu, ranked down at 288, in her attempts to establish herself as a consistent presence on the
WTA Tour. The former US Open champion was sidelined from May until the end of last season after undergoing surgery on both wrists and one ankle, the latest in a long line of injury problems since winning at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
She made her return at the start of this year and showed promising signs by making the third round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells last week before losing to Aryna
Sabalenka. Raducanu’s withdrawal in Miami casts possible doubt over her availability for Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie with France on April 12-13.
Meanwhile, Great Britain will play Canada, Finland and Argentina in the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals in Manchester in September.
Leon Smith’s side will hope for a less nail-biting conclusion than in the same city last year, when Dan Evans and Neal Skupski saved match points to beat France in the deciding match in front of a jubilant record crowd, and the draw appears to have been relatively kind.
Canada, led by Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, were champions in 2022 but lack strength in depth.
Finland were last year’s surprise package, making it through to the semi-finals for the first time, while Argentina boast three top-30 players, but indoor hard courts should favour Britain. The ties will take place at the AO Arena from September 10 to 15.