Emma Raducanu Struggles with Fitness in Loss to World No. 219 in China

Britain’s Emma Raducanu lost in the first round of the Ningbo Open in China after a tough three-set match against world number 219 Zhu Lin.

Raducanu, 22, started well but faded as the match went on. She lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a match that lasted two hours and 26 minutes.

Health Concerns During the Match

During the second set, Raducanu looked unwell. She had her blood pressure and vital signs checked by the physio and was given food and drink. In the third set, she called for a medical timeout to treat her back.

After that, her movement and serve were clearly affected.

Last week, Raducanu also had to retire with illness during her first-round match at the Wuhan Open.

Long Season Taking Its Toll

This year, Raducanu has played 50 matches, more than in any season since she won the US Open in 2021. She still has two more tournaments scheduled — in Tokyo and Hong Kong — before the season ends.

Her coach, Francis Roig, who is working with her until the end of the season, was not with her in Ningbo.