Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from two exhibition matches scheduled in the United States next month because of a minor foot problem.
The British number one is dealing with light bone bruising in her right foot, though she remains able to practise and expects to travel to Barcelona soon for a pre-season training block. Her preparations for 2025 will be overseen in Spain by coach Francisco Roig, who joined her team in August.
Raducanu, 23, has spent part of November training at the National Tennis Centre in London and will now fully focus on her overseas camp. Skipping the exhibition matches almost a month before the new season begins will help reduce the load on her recovering foot.
She is also working with a new physiotherapist, Emma Stewart, formerly of the WTA Tour and British Rowing’s men’s squad. Stewart will travel to selected events next year and will handle Raducanu’s strength and conditioning in the immediate term.
Raducanu is preparing to represent Great Britain at the United Cup in early January alongside Jack Draper, where GB will face Japan and Greece in Perth. That sets up a potential singles clash with fellow Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Currently ranked 29th in the world, Raducanu is on track to be seeded for the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January in Melbourne. She ended her season early due to illness but still achieved a career-best 28 tour-level wins.
Jessica Pegula, the world number six, will replace Raducanu in the exhibition events in Newark and Miami on 7 and 8 December, joining men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who is set to face Frances Tiafoe and rising Brazilian Joao Fonseca.
