Oh My God: Raducanu Provides an Indefinite Update on Her Career After Withdrawal From China Open Amidst Controversies Due to…
Emma Raducanu has revealed why she had to withdraw from the WTA 1000 event at the China Open.
The 2021 US Open champion planned to play a busy Asian swing to try and improve her ranking and results. That would have lifted her spirits after a mixed return to the sport in 2024.
Raducanu was out for nine months with severe wrist and ankle injuries that required surgery. She made her comeback at the start of this season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, which Coco Gauff eventually won.
There have been encouraging moments in 2024 for Raducanu. She came close to reaching the final of the Nottingham Open, narrowly losing to her compatriot Katie Boulter. Raducanu also progressed to the fourth round of Wimbledon.
The 21-year-old’s best performances probably came at the Billie Jean King Cup in April against France away from home on clay. She produced two superb displays against Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry to lead Team Great Britain to an upset triumph.
However, there have also been difficult moments. Raducanu was criticized for entering the US Open after not having played a match in over three weeks. She lost in the first round at Flushing Meadows to Sofia Kenin.
Raducanu admitted that playing so few matches before the year’s final Grand Slam was a mistake. She attempted to rectify that by starting the Asian swing earlier at the Korea Open in Seoul.
The Briton played well in the opening two rounds. After a tough battle, she overcame Peyton Stearns in two tiebreaks before defeating Yue Yuan more comfortably in straight sets to reach the quarterfinal.
Unfortunately, Raducanu retired after 31 minutes of her quarterfinal against Daria Kasatkina. She lost the opening set 1-6 and was visibly struggling with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Raducanu had proven her intention to play a busy Asian swing by signing up for the Wuhan Open qualifying, but she withdrew from the China Open in Beijing before that because of the injury she sustained in Seoul.
The former US Open winner updated her fans about the injury on social media, revealing she had sprained ligaments in her foot during the match against Kasatkina.
2024 China Open WTA Draw: Sabalenka, Gauff Target Title as Swiatek, Rybakina Miss Out
Monday, 23 September 2024
“Hello, last week in Seoul i sprained some ligaments in my foot which unfortunately need some more time to heal. It means i can’t play in Beijing but I hope to be back competing as soon as i can.”
The issue is less severe than the wrist and ankle problems that sidelined her last year. However, it is still a bitterly disappointing setback for Raducanu, who has suffered many injuries during her young career.
Hopefully, she will return to the court as quickly as possible. Raducanu’s tennis is superb to watch when it is flowing, and the 21-year-old has much time to return to the level that won the US Open three years ago.
Several other players have withdrawn from the China Open. Iga Swiatek withdrew for personal reasons, while Elena Rybakina will also be absent from Beijing, explaining that she is nursing a back injury.
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After disappointing US Open 2024 run, Coco Gauff splits with coach Brad Gilbert
The defending US Open champion Coco Gauff exited the 2024 tournament after losing to Emma Navarro in a match in which she committed 19 double faults.
 "After disappointing US Open 2024 run, Coco Gauff splits with coach Brad Gilbert")
Coco Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year and one Grand Slam title together, the pair announced via separate messages on social media. The end of their partnership comes several weeks after Gauff’s defence of her 2023 championship at the US Open unraveled amid 19 double-faults during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Emma Navarro in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
That September 1 loss was the latest in a series of disappointing results in recent months for Gauff, a 20-year-old American who recently dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in the WTA rankings.
It was after a first-round exit at Wimbledon last season that Gauff really took off with the help of the coaching duo of Gilbert and Pere Riba. Riba wasn’t with her this year.
Gauff went 22-1 during a stretch in 2023 that included trophies at Washington, Cincinnati and the US Open — her first at a major tournament — all while still a teenager.
Thank-you messages
Gilbert posted a thank-you Wednesday on social media to Gauff “and the entire team for an absolutely amazing summer run in 2023 and for 14 months of incredible team effort.”
“Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead,” wrote Gilbert, a former pro who has worked with players such as Andre Agassi, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick in the past. “I’m excited for the next chapter in my coaching career.”
In her message Wednesday, Gauff thanked Gilbert and added: “We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future!”
Their tenure also included semifinal appearances by Gauff at the Australian Open this January and French Open this June — losing to the eventual champions at both.
At Wimbledon in July, Gauff departed in the fourth round — also against Navarro — and there were some mid-match back-and-forths between Gauff and Gilbert at Centre Court over what an alternate game plan might be.
“I felt like I wanted more direction,” Gauff said after that match.
She exited in the third round of singles at the Paris Olympics after being the female flag bearer for the US team. Gauff then bowed out in women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Summer Games with a couple of losses on the same day in her second matches in both of those events.
After moving from the red clay there to the hard courts, Gauff went 1-2 at Toronto and the Cincinnati Open in the lead-up to returning to the US Open as the reigning champion.
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