Emma Raducanu retires from Wuhan Open match with dizziness as heat and humidity take their toll

Emma Raducanu’s debut at the Wuhan Open ended in distress after the British No. 1 was forced to retire mid-match with dizziness, trailing 6–1, 4–1 to American Ann Li. The 21-year-old appeared visibly uncomfortable before walking off the court, bringing an abrupt end to what was supposed to be a promising run in China.

The Wuhan conditions were nothing short of punishing. With humidity levels hovering around 69 per cent, players struggled to cope with the heat that has disrupted play throughout the tournament. For Raducanu, it proved too much. She had already suffered two narrow defeats earlier in the Asian swing, having held match points before losing in both the Korea Open and China Open.

Her decision to retire sparked concern among fans and commentators, as the former US Open champion has faced a string of physical setbacks over the past two seasons. The dizziness episode comes at a crucial point in her comeback, just as she was beginning to regain confidence and consistency after months of injury woes.

While Raducanu’s exact condition remains unconfirmed, her schedule for the rest of the season now hangs in the balance. She is currently entered for several late-season tournaments, including the WTA 500 event in Ningbo next week — an appearance that remains uncertain following her retirement in Wuhan.

The Ningbo field is stacked with talent, featuring world-class names such as Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini. Defending champion Daria Kasatkina has already withdrawn after admitting she has been struggling “for a long time” and is taking a break from tennis until 2026. Raducanu was due to make her Ningbo debut last year but missed out due to a foot injury sustained in Seoul — an unfortunate repeat of circumstances that could see her skip the tournament once again.

If fit to compete, Raducanu is also expected to play at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo from 20 to 26 October, another WTA 500 event boasting a glittering lineup including Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka and defending champion Qinwen Zheng. Should she recover in time, it will mark her first appearance at the prestigious tournament.

Her season is due to conclude at the Hong Kong Tennis Open from 27 October to 2 November. With just a few weeks left in the 2025 calendar, Raducanu will be eager to secure valuable ranking points to finish the year inside the top 30 — a position that would guarantee her seeding at the Australian Open in January.

Currently ranked No. 30 in the world, she sits just on the cusp of that crucial threshold. A strong finish could not only cement her seeding but also shield her from facing other top players in the early rounds of next year’s Grand Slam. However, the setback in Wuhan raises new concerns over whether her body can withstand the final stretch of the season.

Raducanu’s return to the tour this year has been marked by flashes of her trademark shot-making and newfound maturity, but consistency has remained elusive. Despite winning two of her five matches during this Asian swing, she has also suffered from the mental and physical grind of back-to-back tournaments in demanding conditions.

Fans and experts alike will be hoping her latest withdrawal is precautionary rather than the sign of another prolonged struggle. For now, her participation in upcoming events remains uncertain — and so does her chase for a seeded spot in Melbourne.

As the young Brit continues to navigate a career already marked by both brilliance and fragility, the coming weeks will reveal whether her dizzying exit from Wuhan was merely a blip or another twist in her ongoing battle to return to full form.