Emma Raducanu has officially been replaced for Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers after the British star made the “difficult” decision to withdraw from the event.
The former US Open champion impressed during her run to the Miami Open quarterfinals, securing notable victories over 8th seed Emma Navarro and 17th seed Amanda Anisimova before falling to 4th seed Jessica Pegula. Her strong performance propelled her back into the WTA’s Top 50 for the first time in nearly three years.
Despite the momentum, Raducanu chose to sit out the Billie Jean King Cup to prioritize her physical health, citing the need to “look after her body.”
In her absence, Jodie Burrage has been called up to join the British team, which includes Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Harriet Dart, and Olivia Nicholls. This marks Burrage’s third appearance in the tournament, having made her debut against Sweden in 2023.
While Burrage has battled injuries recently, she captured a WTA100 title in Dubai and secured wins at this year’s Australian Open. Expressing her excitement, she shared on Instagram:
“Very excited to join these girls.”
Captain Anne Keothavong on Raducanu’s Withdrawal
British team captain Anne Keothavong acknowledged Raducanu’s decision, saying:
“I recognise this has been a difficult decision for Emma. Of course, you always miss a player of her quality on the team. We’ve seen what she’s capable of when representing her country, but I have full belief in the players travelling next week. We’ll confirm a fifth player in due course.”
What’s Next for Team GB?
To qualify for the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Britain must finish first in their group. The team faces a competitive road ahead, but confidence remains high with the new lineup.
Henman Praises Raducanu’s 2025 Resurgence
Former British No.1 Tim Henman weighed in on Raducanu’s progress this season following her Miami Open exit:
“It’s been great to see her compete more consistently after Australia. The results haven’t always come, but her movement—both offensively and defensively—has looked fantastic.
“She’s putting in hard work in the gym and building the physical resilience she previously lacked. Her Grand Slam success came before she had that foundation, and her body often broke down. The big positive this year is her improved consistency—and with that, hopefully, the results will follow.”
