Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Great Britain’s squad for next week’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Netherlands.
The British No 2 recently reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, marking her best performance at a WTA 1000 event since her remarkable US Open triumph in 2021. Her deep run in Miami was an encouraging sign of progress, but after an intense start to the season, she has opted to take a break from competitive action.
Raducanu has participated in seven tournaments in the first three months of the year and will now use the next two to three weeks as a dedicated training block. This decision allows her to focus on fitness and preparation before returning to the tour at a later, unspecified date. Her representatives acknowledged that withdrawing from the British squad was not an easy choice but emphasized the importance of managing her workload and looking after her body.
During her quarter-final defeat to Jessica Pegula in Miami, Raducanu took a medical timeout in the second set, raising concerns about her physical condition. While she has not cited a specific injury, the decision to step away for a short period is seen as a precautionary measure to maintain her long-term fitness.
Originally, Raducanu was named in Britain’s five-player squad for the upcoming qualifiers in the Netherlands. With her absence, team captain Anne Keothavong will now need to select a replacement to join Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Harriet Dart, and Olivia Nicholls.
Keothavong acknowledged the challenge of losing a player of Raducanu’s quality but expressed full confidence in the remaining squad members. She emphasized that the team has capable players who are ready to compete and assured that a fifth player will be announced soon.
Great Britain will participate in a new round-robin qualifying format, with the winner of their three-team group advancing to the finals later this year. The other two nations will have to compete in playoffs to secure a place in the 2026 qualifiers. Britain is set to face Germany on 11 April and the Netherlands on 12 April.
