Emma Raducanu decided not to participate in the qualifying tournament for the Cincinnati Open due to physical fatigue, as stated by Naomi Cavaday, the sister of Raducanu’s coach. The former US Open champion has been out of competitive tennis since her quarter-final loss in Washington DC on August 2. Despite her ranking being below the cutoff, she chose not to play in the qualifiers for the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati. This decision has raised concerns about her match practice leading up to the US Open, which begins on August 26. Cavaday explained that Raducanu wanted to manage her body and believed that the wins in Washington were sufficient preparation.
Tim Henman, a former tennis player, predicted Raducanu’s rankings and addressed her critics. He also sent her a message. Additionally, there are speculations that Raducanu may become a part-time tennis player if she doesn’t change her current approach. In 2023, she had to undergo surgery on both her wrists and one ankle, which caused her to miss the latter part of the tennis season. To prioritize her health, she skipped most of the clay-court swing and the French Open qualifying rounds.
After a successful run at Wimbledon, she decided not to compete in the Olympics and focused on the North American hard-court swing. However, she has only played in one tournament so far, making it challenging to maintain momentum. Cavaday mentioned that Raducanu would have considered playing in the qualifying rounds if she had received a wildcard entry into the main draw. The upcoming Monterrey Open and Tennis in the Land in Cleveland could provide Raducanu with an opportunity to gain more match experience before the US Open. However, her schedule remains undisclosed.
Photo from Emma Raducanu Instagram
