Raducanu could benefit ending her season following US Open withdrawal
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- Emma Raducanu withdrew from the US Open on Monday after medical consultation confirmed a stress fracture in her right lower leg, originally sustained during the grass-court season that also forced her out of Wimbledon.
- Raducanu will drop from her current ranking of 49, with significant points to defend across last year's North American hard-court swing in Washington, Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open.
- Raducanu's injury troubles trace back to a post-viral illness in early February that kept her off court for two-and-a-half months, preceded by a foot injury that hampered her pre-season training.
- Raducanu reached her biggest final since her 2021 US Open title at Queen's Club in June before that effort triggered the latest setback, and she has begun serving again in a protective boot.
- Annabel Croft argued on Sky Sports Tennis that closing down the season would let Raducanu fully heal and potentially use a top-50 protected ranking from her grass season for select 2027 events upon return.
- Raducanu rehired Andrew Richardson, her 2021 US Open-winning coach, before her clay-court return, though their on-court time together has been limited.
- Great Britain did not include Raducanu in its team for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in late September.
Why it matters: Raducanu faces a steep ranking slide from No 49 with major points to defend at the US Open and surrounding North American events, but the WTA's protected-ranking rule means her top-50 grass-season mark could shield her entry into select 2027 tournaments — turning an involuntary shutdown into a strategic reset for the Brit, who has played only sporadically since her 2021 Grand Slam breakthrough.
