In the intense arena of professional tennis, where every point can shift a career’s trajectory, Emma Raducanu, Britain’s 22-year-old tennis prodigy, faced a heartbreaking setback at the 2025 Korea Open in Seoul. The 2021 US Open champion, who opted to prioritize the WTA 500 event over representing Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, suffered a devastating loss to former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in a nearly three-hour epic on September 18, 2025. Despite holding three match points and leading by a set, Raducanu fell 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-1, missing a golden opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals and potentially face world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
Raducanu’s 2025 season has been a compelling narrative of resurgence and ambition. With a career-best 26 wins in 44 singles matches, including a semifinal run at the DC Open, she has shown flashes of the brilliance that defined her historic US Open triumph. However, her third-round defeat to Elena Rybakina at the US Open (6-1, 6-2) exposed the challenges of competing against the WTA’s elite. Her decision to compete in Seoul, driven by a desire to defend ranking points from her 2024 quarterfinal and 2022 semifinal runs at the Korea Open, was also about syncing with her new coach, Francisco Roig, formerly Rafael Nadal’s mentor. “It was a truly difficult decision,” Raducanu said of skipping the Billie Jean King Cup. “I love the BJK Cup so much, and I gave it my all last year, even under difficult circumstances. However, the Korea Open was a crucial time for me to get in sync with my new coach, Francis.”
The Korea Open, a WTA 500 event held from September 15-21, 2025, carried high stakes for Raducanu. A deep run could have lifted her from her current world No. 36 ranking into the top 30, potentially securing a seed at the 2026 Australian Open. Her campaign began with a gritty first-round victory over Jaqueline Cristian, a 6-3, 6-4 battle marred by rain delays and slow, grueling conditions. “I’m super happy to have won today,” she said after the match. “It hasn’t been easy. I feel like I’ve played this match the last three days. Jaqueline is a really tough opponent, and the conditions were tough, very slow, long rallies, long points, so happy to have gotten through.” That resilience set the stage for her second-round clash with Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion known for her tactical versatility.
The match against Krejcikova was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Raducanu surged to a 6-4 first-set lead, capitalizing on her aggressive baseline play and saving crucial break points. In the second set, she stood on the cusp of victory, serving for the match at 5-4. But Krejcikova, displaying the resolve that earned her the 2021 French Open and 2024 Wimbledon titles, saved a match point on Raducanu’s serve and fought back. The second set culminated in a marathon tiebreak, where Raducanu saved three set points but squandered two more match points. Krejcikova clinched the tiebreak 12-10, and Raducanu’s momentum crumbled. The third set was one-sided, with Krejcikova storming to a 6-1 victory as Raducanu’s errors mounted.
The loss was a bitter blow for Raducanu, who had banked on Seoul to bolster her ranking and confidence ahead of the WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan. Her decision to prioritize the Korea Open over the Billie Jean King Cup had already sparked controversy, with British tennis officials expressing disappointment. “Of course we are disappointed,” a Lawn Tennis Association spokesperson noted, though they emphasized confidence in the team of Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Jodie Burrage, and Fran Jones. Captain Anne Keothavong called Raducanu’s absence “obviously disappointing,” especially after her stellar 3-0 singles record at the 2024 BJK Cup Finals in Malaga. Without her, Britain faces a daunting challenge against Japan, potentially led by Naomi Osaka.
Despite the criticism, Raducanu’s choice drew support from former coach Mark Petchey, who blamed the tennis calendar’s scheduling conflicts. “I don’t think you can blame Emma for a schedule that makes zero sense,” he said. “She’s on an upward curve. The tournament in Seoul is one she’s played well at in the past.” The broader issue of the BJK Cup’s clash with WTA events was evident, as stars like Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys also withdrew. Raducanu’s focus on her partnership with Roig, which began in Cincinnati and continued with a productive training block in Barcelona, reflects her long-term vision. Her upbeat Instagram posts, captioned “Good week :)” and “Sun in September,” hinted at her optimism before the Krejcikova loss.
This defeat, though painful, is unlikely to derail Raducanu’s ambition. With eight consecutive losses against top-10 players, she knows the road to the elite is steep, but her work with Roig signals a commitment to growth. The Korea Open was a gamble—a chance to reclaim momentum in a familiar setting—but Krejcikova’s comeback underscored the fine margins at this level. As Raducanu regroups for the Asian swing, her resilience and strategic choices will define her path. For now, the Seoul setback is a reminder of the highs and lows of her journey to recapture the magic of 2021.
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