Emma Raducanu withdraws from Great Britain squad for BJK Cup qualifiers

Raducanu Withdraws from Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers

British tennis player Emma Raducanu has opted out of representing Great Britain in the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Netherlands. The withdrawal of the US Open champion comes after a strong showing at the Miami Open, reaching the quarter-finals – her best performance at a WTA 1000 tournament since her US Open victory in 2021.

Reason for Withdrawal

Following a demanding schedule in the initial months of the year, participating in seven tournaments, Raducanu is reportedly planning a brief hiatus from competitive tennis. The British No. 2 is expected to utilize the next few weeks for focused training before her return to the tour at a date yet to be announced.

Representatives for Raducanu described her withdrawal from the Billie Jean King Cup matches in The Hague as a “difficult decision,” emphasizing her need for “space in the calendar to best look after her body.” Notably, Raducanu required a medical timeout during her recent match against Jessica Pegula in Miami, where she ultimately lost in three sets.

Team GB Adjusts Line-up

The 22-year-old athlete was originally included in Great Britain’s five-player team for the qualifying double-header in the Netherlands. Team captain Anne Keothavong will now need to name a replacement to join the team consisting of Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Harriet Dart, and doubles specialist Olivia Nicholls.

Captain Keothavong’s Response

“I recognise this has been a difficult decision for Emma,” Keothavong stated via the LTA’s X account. “You always miss a player of her calibre in the team. We have witnessed her past contributions representing her nation. However, I have complete confidence in the players who are travelling next week, and we will confirm the fifth player shortly.”

Billie Jean King Cup Format and Schedule

Great Britain is set to participate in a newly formatted round-robin qualifying stage. The top-performing nation from each group of three will advance to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals later in the year. The remaining two teams will compete in playoffs to re-enter the qualifiers in 2026. Team GB is scheduled to face Germany on April 11th and the Netherlands on April 12th.