Emma Raducanu’s ongoing physical challenges persisted as the British No. 1 was hindered by a back injury during her first-round loss at the Ningbo Open in China.
Raducanu, after winning the first set, ultimately fell to the 31-year-old Chinese competitor Lin Zhu, who triumphed with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 over the course of two hours and 27 minutes.
Having withdrawn from her first-round match at the Wuhan Open the previous week due to the oppressive heat and humidity in China, Raducanu received her initial medical timeout in the second set, during which her blood pressure was monitored.
The conditions in Ningbo proved similarly challenging, with humidity levels reaching 89 percent, while Raducanu’s mobility was significantly restricted in the final set as she attempted to alleviate her back discomfort.
Raducanu called for another medical timeout just three games into the third set, where she underwent extensive treatment for her lower back. Although she did not retire from the match, it became increasingly one-sided as Zhu secured the last four games consecutively.
This defeat marks a continuation of a notably difficult period for the 22-year-old, who has now suffered five consecutive losses in matches that reached a deciding third set, resulting in a 5-9 record in three-set encounters this season.
The former US Open champion has let slip match points in her heartbreaking losses to World No. 5 Jessica Pegula at the China Open in Beijing and two-time Grand Slam singles champion Barbora Krejcikova at the Korea Open in Seoul.
Raducanu was defeated 6-0 by Pegula in the final set and 6-1 by Krejcikova, with a similar outcome against Zhu, as the Chinese player surged ahead to win the final set 6-1 after Raducanu’s second medical timeout.
Prior to her participation in the Ningbo Open, Raducanu had mentioned that she continued to receive medical care in Wuhan following her retirement in the second set against Ann Li, marking the first time this season she had withdrawn from a match.
She shared on social media a few days ago: “Last day at the doctor’s in Wuhan… feeling better now. It’s unfortunate I couldn’t continue there, but I appreciate the messages.”
Raducanu is scheduled to participate in her final events of the season in Tokyo and at the Hong Kong Tennis Open in the upcoming weeks. However, the British player may opt to conclude her season after experiencing physical difficulties in her last two matches.
Raducanu’s coach, Francisco Roig, was already back home, taking a week off in Barcelona, while she had her hitting partner Alexis Canter and physical trainer Daniel Pohl present courtside.
Raducanu was favored to advance against the local player Zhu, whose ranking had fallen from a career-high of 31 two years prior to 219 in the world after missing a significant portion of last season due to injury.
However, concerns arose for Raducanu as she was pushed into a challenging final game of the opening set. After four consecutive breaks of serve, Raducanu managed to serve out the first set on her fifth set point, winning it 6-3 after nearly an hour of play.
The match’s pattern persisted into the second set, with Raducanu immediately falling a break behind. When she managed to earn a second break back to trail 3-4 in the second set, following an extended game, the 22-year-old called for her first medical timeout.
Raducanu, who experienced dizziness in Wuhan as temperatures reached 36C, wrapped herself in a towel while her blood pressure was monitored by two trainers who attended to her on the court.
Despite returning from the timeout to hold serve, Zhu broke Raducanu for the third time in the set and overcame her own serving difficulties to win the second set 6-4.
Raducanu lost her serve again at the beginning of the third set and began to grasp her lower back and stretch between points. Although she managed to earn a break back, Raducanu called for another medical timeout, this time for treatment on her lower back injury.
While Raducanu did not retire from the match, it was clear that the contest was over after she lost her serve once more. Zhu won the last four games consecutively, setting up a second-round match against the top seed Mirra Andreeva.
It was a very tough match, I couldn’t find my rhythm, but I kept moving, kept patient, to get the rhythm, to get the final set,” Zhu said. “Also, there were some issues with Emma in the final set. It’s not easy for both of us, it’s very near the end of the season.
