In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, Emma Raducanu and her doubles partner, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, were forced to retire from their semi-final match against Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai. The unexpected withdrawal, which came just 25 minutes into the match with the score at 4-1 against them in the first set, followed Raducanu’s candid admission of feeling unwell after a grueling singles quarter-final earlier that day. The 22-year-old Brit’s concerning comments about her physical condition have sparked worry among fans as she prepares for a pivotal singles semi-final, marking her strongest showing since her 2021 US Open triumph.
Raducanu’s journey in Washington has been a testament to her resilience and growing form. On Thursday, she battled through swelteringly oppressive conditions to defeat Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-4, 7-5 in the singles quarter-finals, clawing back from a 5-2 deficit in the second set. The match, which lasted over an hour for the first set alone, tested Raducanu’s endurance in the intense Washington heat, which she vividly described as feeling “like you have just opened an oven and it just stayed open and your head is in there.” During the second set, she required a medical timeout to have her vital signs checked, admitting, “Those points in the second set, I was getting a bit wobbly.” Reflecting on the brutal conditions, she noted, “It was one of the toughest matches, conditions-wise, I have ever played in.” Her victory over Sakkari, a former top-10 player, propelled her to her first WTA Tour-level semi-final in over a year and boosted her live ranking to World No. 32, her best since 2022.
Despite her singles success, Raducanu’s decision to compete in the doubles draw alongside Rybakina raised eyebrows, especially given her post-match comments after the Sakkari win. “I’m not feeling the best right now, so I just need to go and speak to the doctors,” she confessed, hinting at the physical toll of the day. The Brit also expressed doubts about her stamina, admitting, “I think you get to a point where you’re so tired that you don’t really know what you’re doing anymore.” Less than seven hours after her singles triumph, Raducanu and Rybakina took to the court for their doubles semi-final. Facing the experienced second-seeded duo of Townsend and Zhang, the pair struggled, losing serve twice early in the match. With Raducanu visibly unwell, the decision was made to retire, prioritizing their health for the singles semi-finals scheduled for Saturday, July 26.
The Raducanu-Rybakina partnership, dubbed “ER²” by fans, had been a highlight of the tournament. Their unexpected collaboration began with a thrilling comeback in the first round, overcoming a set deficit to defeat Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls 2-6, 7-6(7), 11-9. “Let’s go!!” Raducanu exclaimed on social media after the win, while Rybakina humorously summed up the match with a single word: “Survived.” Their chemistry grew in the quarter-finals, where they dispatched Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi 7-6(6), 6-4. Raducanu, who initiated the partnership by approaching Rybakina during practice, saw the doubles as a chance to gain match rhythm on hardcourts ahead of the US Open. “I think the time I spent on the doubles court for sure helped me,” she said earlier in the tournament, crediting the experience with improving her volley skills.
For Rybakina, the doubles campaign offered valuable preparation without overloading her schedule. The World No. 12, who also reached the singles semi-finals with straight-set wins over Victoria Mboko and Magdalena Frech, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting, “It was a lot of fun, and hopefully we can play a bit more in the future too.” Despite their doubles exit, both players remain in contention for the singles title, with Raducanu set to face Anna Kalinskaya and Rybakina taking on Leylah Fernandez on Saturday. A final between the two doubles partners remains a tantalizing possibility, adding intrigue to an already captivating tournament.
Raducanu’s withdrawal has sparked concern, particularly as she aims to reclaim the British No. 1 ranking and secure a seeded position for the upcoming US Open. Her performance in Washington, where she also upset seventh seed Marta Kostyuk and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, signals a resurgence after years of injury setbacks. However, the intense heat and demanding schedule have clearly taken a toll. As the tennis world watches her semi-final clash with Kalinskaya, the focus will be on whether Raducanu can overcome her physical challenges to continue her remarkable comeback in the nation’s capital.
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