Emma Raducanu is facing physical problems again, this time at the Ningbo Open, where she was eliminated in the first round.
The British tennis player, who had already retired due to dizziness in Wuhan, showed signs of weakness after winning the first set against China’s Zhu Lin. The match ended in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat.
Despite the temperatures being lower than the previous week, Raducanu began to show signs of fatigue in the second set, requiring medical assistance after seven games. In the decisive set, the 2021 US Open champion again requested medical attention, this time for lower back problems, and visibly affected, finished the match.
Raducanu did not have her coach Francisco Roig, and instead was accompanied by her training partner Alexis Canter and the physical trainer Daniel Pohl.
Canter encouraged Raducanu, who managed to stay ahead in the first set, despite showing frustration and losing her serve twice. In the second set, Zhu Lin quickly took the lead, outplaying Raducanu, who was moving slowly.
Raducanu held serve in the set, tying 2-2 and then 4-4 after consulting the doctor, but ultimately lost the set in the tenth game.
After a break, the situation did not improve, and Raducanu’s back problems, which had already affected her performance during the season, resurfaced. The tennis player repeatedly bent over at the beginning of the final set and requested medical assistance after three games.
Although Raducanu decided not to retire, her mobility was limited, and the match concluded quickly.
