Emma Raducanu has shared an encouraging health update after her unsettling withdrawal from the Wuhan Open last week due to the extreme heat conditions. The 22-year-old tennis star was forced to retire from her opening match against Ann Li after experiencing dizziness in the sweltering 36-degree Celsius heat with high humidity.
During the match, Raducanu called for a medical timeout while trailing 4-1 in the second set. Medical staff assessed her on-court condition, taking her blood pressure as she felt unwell. Following her withdrawal, Raducanu took to social media to reassure her supporters, stating, “Last day at the doctor’s in Wuhan… feeling better now. Shame I couldn’t continue there but thank you for the messages.”
With her sights set on the upcoming Ningbo Open, Raducanu will be competing in this prestigious WTA 500 event rather than ending her 2025 season early. She has shown a resurgence in form recently, climbing to the 29th spot in the WTA rankings, which secures her a seed at the Australian Open in January.
In the first round of the Ningbo Open, Raducanu is set to face Lin Zhu, and should she succeed, a subsequent match against rising star Mirra Andreeva awaits. Additional challenging opponents could include top-10 player Ekaterina Alexandrova and eighth seed Liudmila Samsonova.
The harsh weather conditions that have plagued players recently have raised concerns about player safety. At the Shanghai Masters, similar extreme conditions led to high-profile withdrawals and player discomfort. Novak Djokovic highlighted the severity of the conditions, stating, “It’s brutal when you have more than 80 per cent humidity day after day.”
The ATP is currently evaluating the possibility of implementing an official heat policy to ensure player safety moving forward. Emma Raducanu’s positive outlook in the face of adversity reflects her determination, and fans are hopeful for her success as she prepares for the challenges ahead at the Ningbo Open.