Emma Raducanu, the British number two, has unfortunately had to withdraw from her first-round match against Robin Montgomery at the Auckland Open. Raducanu, ranked 56th in the world, cited a back niggle as the reason for her withdrawal, stating that she had tried her best to be ready but ultimately couldn’t make it in time. The 2021 US Open winner expressed her love for Auckland and the fans, despite having to pull out of the tournament.
Australian Open 2025: Will Raducanu play?
Raducanu’s next match is likely to be at the Australian Open, scheduled to start on January 12. As she will not be seeded due to her ranking, it will be her fourth consecutive appearance at the first Grand Slam of the year. In her previous three campaigns, Raducanu was eliminated in the second round each time, with her best major performance post-US Open victory being a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon in 2024.
Raducanu injuries
Currently working with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, Raducanu may face a lack of competitive build-up as she has only played three matches since injuring her foot in September. Despite winning all three matches representing Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, she also suffered a first-round defeat at the 2024 US Open to Sofia Kenin, who is now ranked 81st in the world. Raducanu had returned to the tour in January after undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries and had to withdraw from the Miami Open in March due to lower back pain.
Auckland Open: Burrage through
While Raducanu had to withdraw, the British number one, Katie Boulter, holds the 24th spot in the world rankings. Another British presence at the Auckland Open is Jodie Burrage, ranked seventh in Britain and 179th globally. Despite losing in qualifying, Burrage secured a spot in the main draw following Elise Mertens’ injury. She capitalized on this opportunity with a 6-3 6-3 victory over wildcard entry Vivian Yang, describing her last-minute appearance as a pleasant surprise on a hectic day.