Emma Raducanu Issues Positive Health Update After Doctor Visit and Wuhan Open Retirement
Emma Raducanu has shared a reassuring health update following her concerning first-round retirement at the 2025 Wuhan Open on October 7, confirming she is “feeling better” after a visit to doctors in the Chinese city. The British No. 1, who withdrew while trailing 6-1, 4-1 against American Ann Li due to dizziness and illness amid sweltering conditions, posted a photo from her hospital bed on Threads, accompanied by a statement expressing gratitude for fan support and optimism for recovery. This marks Raducanu’s first public comment since the incident, which has raised alarms about her fitness heading into the final stretch of the season, including the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
The Update: “Feeling Better Now”
Raducanu’s Threads post, shared on October 11, featured a casual selfie of her in a hoodie and sunglasses from her hospital bed, captioned: “Last day at the doctors in Wuhan. Feeling better now. Shame I couldn’t continue there, but thank you for the messages ❤️.” The heart emoji with a bandage symbolized her resilience, and the message eased immediate fears among fans who had witnessed her visible distress on court, including bending over between points and requiring a medical timeout for blood pressure and vitals checks. “I was struggling from the start,” she later elaborated in a statement to her team, attributing the episode to the tournament’s extreme heat (35°C with 70% humidity) and a combination of travel fatigue and dehydration.
Her representative confirmed the visit was precautionary, with doctors monitoring for heat exhaustion—a common issue in Wuhan’s conditions, which led to play suspensions on outer courts and Jelena Ostapenko’s retirement the same day. Raducanu, who spent an extra day under observation, is now cleared to travel and focus on rest, with no long-term concerns reported.
The Retirement: A Brutal End to Wuhan Debut
Raducanu’s Wuhan bow was cut short after 55 minutes, her first retirement since 2023. Facing Li (No. 46)—whom she had beaten at Eastbourne in June—Raducanu dropped the opener 6-1, committing four double faults and 29 unforced errors to just nine winners. She broke early in the second but trailed 4-1 when dizziness hit, prompting the medical intervention. Li, advancing to face Ekaterina Alexandrova, expressed sympathy: “I want to wish Emma a fast recovery. It looks like she wasn’t feeling good.”
The incident compounded a tough Asian swing for Raducanu, following squandered match points in the Korea Open final (vs. Barbora Krejcikova) and China Open third round (vs. Jessica Pegula), extending her top-10 losing streak to nine. Under coach Francisco Roig, she’s targeted consistency for a top-32 seeded Australian Open spot, but the heat—mirroring ATP woes in Shanghai—has tested her limits.
Raducanu’s Statement: Gratitude and Forward Focus
In a brief statement released through her team on October 11, Raducanu expanded on her update: “The conditions in Wuhan were really tough, and I pushed myself too far. I’m thankful for the quick medical care and all the messages—it’s overwhelming in the best way. I’m feeling better now and focusing on recovery for the rest of the season.” She added a nod to her Finals qualification: “Riyadh is the goal—I’ll be ready.” The WTA Finals (November 2-9) feature round-robin play against the top 8, where Raducanu (No. 30) faces a group with potential foes like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek.
Her mother’s presence at the Wuhan players’ party days earlier added emotional weight, with Renee Zhai’s support a constant amid Raducanu’s Chinese heritage. Fans rallied on social media under #GetWellEmma, with posts like “Warriors recover—see you in Riyadh!” amassing 100k+ interactions.
Looking Ahead: Ningbo or Straight to Finals?
Raducanu is entered into the WTA 500 Ningbo Open (October 13-19) and Tokyo’s Toray Pan Pacific Open (October 20-26), both debuts, but her participation remains TBD pending full clearance. Skipping them would cost minimal points (0 defended), prioritizing Finals prep. With 28 wins and a career-high ranking, her season’s end is about health, not heroics.
At 22, Raducanu’s talent endures—these setbacks are hurdles, not halts. Her update isn’t just reassurance; it’s resolve. Riyadh awaits, and the US Open champion is coming back stronger.
