Emma Raducanu retired from her Korea Open quarter-final match with injury on Saturday morning.
The British tennis star was in the last-eight after a promising start to the tournament in Seoul, but was forced to pull out of her clash with top seed Daria Kasatkina after losing the first set.
Raducanu called time on the match with just 32 minutes on the clock due to a problem with her left foot which seemed to be affecting her movement around the court as well as her serve.
The 21-year-old looked uncomfortable as she lost the first set 6-1. Having gone 2-0 down, she broke back to make it 2-1 but then called for the physio with the score at 4-1.
She was given painkillers, but then only lasted two more games before deciding to retire from the match at the end of the set.
It’s another disappointing end to a tournament for Raducanu, who was looking to end 2024 strong.
Raducanu was aiming to compete in a run of tournaments in Asia after years of injury frustration that have dogged her career since her sensational US Open victory at the age of 18.
But now that goal is now in doubt with the British No.2 back on the treatment table, much to the disappointment of tennis fans everywhere, including her quarter-final opponent.
“I feel sorry for Emma for retiring during the match,” said Kasatkina after her bye to the semi-final.
“It’s a pity to get the injury, especially in the deeper stages of the tournament.
“I wish her a speedy recovery and to get ready for the next tournament. I know that this Asian swing is important for her.”
Things were beginning to look up for Raducanu following a humbling first-round exit at the US Open at the start of September.
The Brit was given a reality check from tennis legend Martina Navratilova after being on the wrong end of a 1-6, 6-3, 4-6 defeat to world No 54 Sofia Kenin at Flushing Meadow.
Raducanu was on the verve of tears during her press conference following her exit, and was given some tough love from the 18-time Grand Slam winner who told her to ‘take ownership of your tennis career’.
Whether she heard those comments or not, she bounced back at the Korea Open – the first tournament of an Asian leg of the tour she hoped would help her complete a positive end to the year.
Raducanu claimed her first win since July with a hard-fought victory over American player Peyton Stearns in the first round in Seoul.
It was also one of the longest games of the year, with Raducanu showing some serious grit to win 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5) in a brutal encounter which lasted two hours and 43 minutes.
She followed that up with an impressively commanding straight sets win over China’s Yuan Yue – hammering 11 aces in a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over the eighth seed.
The return to form saw the 21-year-old knock on the door of the world’s top 50 again, with the two wins in South Korea catapulting her 16 places into 54th.
But her injury issues have reared their head again at her worst possible time ahead of a run of tournaments in Asia, where the half-Chinese player says she ‘feels at home’.
After the Korea Open, Raducanu is due to compete at the China Open in Beijing at the end of September, and both the Wuhan Open and Hong Kong Open in October.
“I thrive in Asia,” Raducanu – whose mother is Chinese – told WTA Insider.
“It’s where I truly feel like home. So I’m buzzing for that trip even though it’s at the end of the year. I’m looking forward to going out there and trying to take it.”
However, her participation in those tournaments will now be in some doubt after a latest injury setback.
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