Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from two scheduled exhibition matches in the United States to focus on returning to full fitness for the start of the 2026 season.
Radukanu was scheduled to face Amanda Anisimova in two fights in Newark and Miami early next month, but promoters confirmed she has been replaced by Jessica Pegula.
The PA news agency understands Raducanu has suffered a minor bone bruise in his right foot, but the injury is not expected to affect plans for the upcoming pre-season camp in Barcelona.
The 23-year-old had her season ended early in mid-October after a struggle in China, retiring in her second match against Anne Lee in Wuhan.
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Highlights of Emma Raducanu and Ann Li’s Wuhan Open match
After that, she decided to participate in the Ningbo Open, but was clearly not 100% and lost the opening match again.
Raducanu has teamed up with Rafael Nadal’s former long-term coach Francisco Roig for the upcoming pre-season training block and has hired a new physiotherapist in Emma Stewart, formerly of British Rowing.
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Emma Raducanu shows off her skills at the lineout while training with the England rugby team!
Raducanu had hoped for a strong finish to 2025 to guarantee seeding for the Australian Open in January, but instead ended her season early due to physical difficulties in China.
She has already done enough to earn a seeding in Melbourne, increasing her chances of avoiding the draw she has faced at Grand Slams this season and giving her a good platform to build on.
speaking sky sportsCommentator Jonathan Overend looks back on Raducanu’s season and pinpoints areas of his game that need improvement as he aims for a successful 2026.
“Raducanu’s challenges this year were very clear,” he said. “Getting over the line and beating a top 10 player still remains a problem. Staying fully fit remains a problem as my back has been an issue.
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Marion Bartoli believes Emma Raducanu will learn more from playing with the best players in the world after leaving the US Open.
Raducanu turns 23 on November 13, and will go from ranking outside the top 300 at the start of 2024 to the top 30 at the end of 2025.
“If you take away everything else around Raducanu – the special Grand Slam fairy tale, the hype, the incredible focus and attention that is there – it’s very impressive for a player at that age to make a jump in the rankings,” Overend added.
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After the US Open, Emma Raducanu told Sky Sports that her game is heading in the right direction.
“Out of the top 300 in the world, double wrist surgery, top 30 within two years of turning 23? Any player would say that’s amazing!
“I am confident she can be a top-10 player. It will take a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication and a real commitment to her relationship with Francisco Roig, which has the potential to be her most successful coaching relationship for a long time.”
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