Emma Raducanu may not play again until 2025 after pulling out of the Hong Kong Open with her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals also a doubt.
The British tennis star has been battling a foot injury she sustained at the Korea Open last month.
The injury setback forced Raducanu to pull out of WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan as well as other Chinese tournaments in Ningbo and Guangzhou.
The Hong Kong Open presented Raducanu’s last chance to play on the WTA Tour this season, but she has now pulled out of her fifth consecutive tournament.
Raducanu recently sent a message to her rivals on tour that she plans to ‘do some damage in 2025’.
Emma Raducanu has suffered another injury setbackPA
Her focus could well switch to next year as well with only one tournament left on her schedule until the end of the year.
Raducanu is in Anne Keothavong’s Great Britain squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals next month and is scheduled to play the first singles match of their opener against Germany on November 15.
However, the Telegraph report that Raducanu is also a doubt to take part in the annual international tournament.
It’s said that Raducanu’s appearance is ‘up in the air’, although she has plenty of time to prove her fitness.
Keothavong can make up to three changes to her team until November 14, giving Raducanu just over three weeks to get up to speed.
Raducanu played a key role in helping Great Britain qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals earlier this year against France.
She won both her singles matches against Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry while Katie Boulter defeated Clara Burel to help Great Britain progress.
Both Boulter and Raducanu are joined by Heather Watson, Harriet Dart and Olivia Nicholls in the five-woman squad.
Speaking after the announcement of her team, Keothavong hinted that she had alternatives in mind should changes need to be made.
Emma Raducanu has only played in three tournaments since Wimbledon
GETTY
“We are really looking forward to the finals in Malaga after qualifying following our fantastic weekend in France in April,” Keothavong said..
“Our team have created excellent memories and put in outstanding performances in this competition in recent years, and we will relish the opportunity in November.
“There is still a lot of tennis to be played, and changes can be made up until the day before our first match.”
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Sonay Kartal would be an option to replace Emma Raducanu
REUTERS
Sonay Kartal might be expected to receive a call-up should Raducanu pull out of the tournament.
The British No 4 has enjoyed a career-best year on the WTA Tour and has risen up to 92nd in the world rankings.
She also won her first WTA Tour-level title in Tunisia last month, beating Rebecca Sramkova at the Jasmin Open final.