Emma Raducanu’s Wuhan Open Debut: Facing Familiar Foe Ann Li
Emma Raducanu is set to make her Wuhan Open debut against American Ann Li in the first round, a matchup against a familiar opponent she previously defeated earlier in 2025. The British No. 1, ranked No. 32, enters the WTA 1000 event (October 6-12) on the back of a frustrating China Open third-round loss to Jessica Pegula, where she squandered three match points before a 6-0 third-set collapse. A win over Li could set up a potential third-round rematch with Pegula, offering Raducanu a shot at redemption.
The Matchup: Raducanu vs. Ann Li
Li, ranked No. 47, is a familiar face for Raducanu, having lost to her 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1 in the round of 32 at Eastbourne earlier this year—a three-setter where Raducanu rallied from a set down amid personal challenges. Both players favor quick hard courts, making Wuhan a suitable surface for their power-based styles—Li with her big serve (often 10+ aces) and Raducanu needing to stabilize her own delivery. The match is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday, likely on a outer court, as Raducanu is unseeded in the smaller draw.
A victory would pit Raducanu against the winner of Ekaterina Alexandrova (No. 9 seed) vs. Victoria Mboko in the second round, followed by a possible Pegula rematch—where Raducanu seeks to overcome her recent tiebreak collapses. The draw also features world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (top seed, defending champion) and Iga Świątek (No. 2), setting up potential elite clashes later.
Raducanu’s Path and Stakes
Raducanu, making her Wuhan debut after missing 2024 due to injury, arrives at No. 32—her highest since 2022—and eyes a seeded Australian Open spot (top 32). Her 2025 form (27 wins) includes a Washington semifinal and China Open third round, but recent match-point failures (three vs. Pegula, two vs. Krejcikova in Seoul) highlight mental hurdles under coach Francisco Roig. A strong run in Wuhan could add 65-215 points, boosting her toward top-30 stability.
| Round | Potential Opponent | Notes |
|——-|——————–|——-|
| 1st | Ann Li | H2H: Raducanu leads 1-0 (Eastbourne 2025 win). |
| 2nd | Ekaterina Alexandrova or Victoria Mboko | Tough test; Alexandrova seeded No. 9. |
| 3rd | Jessica Pegula (No. 6 seed) | Rematch opportunity after China Open loss. |
Raducanu’s Wuhan campaign begins a critical end-of-season push, with the WTA Finals looming—her cryptic social media amid recent setbacks adds intrigue, but against Li, she has the edge to advance.
