British tennis star Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from her first-round match at the Wuhan Open against Ann Li due to apparent health concerns caused by the humid playing conditions.
Raducanu, trailing 6-1, 4-1, took a medical timeout in the second set, showing visible signs of dizziness. After a brief check-up, she retired from the match, marking another early exit during her challenging return to form.
Struggles in Humid Conditions
Raducanu began strongly, breaking Li in the opening game. However, the momentum quickly shifted. She lost the next six games as Li dominated the first set in just 28 minutes. The 2021 US Open champion appeared off balance, committing frequent unforced errors and struggling physically, particularly during the second set.
She double-faulted four times early in the second set and was seen bending over between points, clearly uncomfortable. Despite holding serve once, Raducanu soon called for medical attention. After the timeout, she shook hands with her opponent, ending the match prematurely.
Support from Opponent, Broader Schedule Concerns
Ann Li acknowledged the situation with grace, saying, “I want to wish Emma a fast recovery. It looked like she wasn’t feeling well.” Li will now face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round.
Raducanu’s withdrawal comes amid growing concern over the demanding WTA calendar, especially during the Asia swing. Top players like Iga Swiatek have spoken out against the “overwhelming” schedule, citing player fatigue and rising injury withdrawals.
In other action on Tuesday, Naomi Osaka edged past Leylah Fernandez in three sets, while Amanda Anisimova withdrew due to a calf injury following her China Open win.
