Raducanu’s painful back injury during Ningbo Open defeat raises fears of an early season end
Emma Raducanu’s late-season campaign has taken another troubling turn after the British No. 1 suffered a painful back injury during a first-round defeat at the Ningbo Open, sparking renewed fears that she may be forced to end her 2025 season early.
The 22-year-old, already battling fatigue and fitness issues across the Asian swing, fell 6-3, 4-6, 1-6 to Chinese wildcard Zhu Lin in a match that quickly shifted from competition to concern.
Raducanu appeared in clear discomfort throughout the second and third sets. Medics were called to the court after she complained of dizziness, taking her blood pressure before administering treatment for a lower back problem. Cameras captured her wincing as she tried to stretch between points, her movement visibly restricted.
Despite attempting to continue, the British star’s condition worsened. She called for a medical timeout in the deciding set, receiving courtside massage therapy as fans watched in uneasy silence. By the time Zhu sealed victory, Raducanu was struggling to walk off the court a distressing sight for those fearing a recurrence of her long-running injury woes.
The scenes come just days after Raducanu retired from the Wuhan Open due to extreme heat, a withdrawal that had already raised questions about her fitness heading into the final leg of the season. She later told fans online that she was “feeling better” and “ready to go again,” but Tuesday’s events suggest her recovery may have been incomplete.
Since her US Open third-round loss to Elena Rybakina, Raducanu’s Asian swing has been marked by inconsistency and physical strain. She skipped the Billie Jean King Cup to compete at the Korea Open instead but was seen close to tears during her tense first-round victory over Jaqueline Cristian. That brief reprieve was followed by another heartbreak a three-set loss to Barbora Krejcikova after blowing a 5-3 lead in the second set.
In Ningbo, things appeared to unravel further. Her early energy and precision faded fast after the first set, replaced by grimaces and shorter rallies. Commentators noted her visibly stiff posture between serves and cautious movement around the baseline.
Sky Sports cameras showed Raducanu speaking quietly with medics, appearing frustrated and emotional as they checked her vitals. The crowd applauded her perseverance, but the writing was on the wall by the final game, she could barely rotate her torso for a full swing.
The loss marks her fourth consecutive early exit on the Asian circuit and adds to growing uncertainty about her ability to finish the year. Her team has yet to confirm whether she will withdraw from upcoming events, though medical evaluation is reportedly underway.
The Ningbo setback underscores what has become a familiar theme for Raducanu since her meteoric 2021 US Open triumph flashes of brilliance overshadowed by an unrelenting cycle of injuries. Fans and pundits alike have voiced concern that the physical demands of the tour are catching up with her again, just as she seemed to be regaining confidence.
While no official statement has been released, speculation is mounting that Raducanu may choose to rest for the remainder of the season to focus on rehabilitation ahead of 2026. For a player once hailed as Britain’s brightest tennis hope, the sight of her grimacing in pain instead of raising trophies feels all too familiar