EMMA RADUCANU’S participation at the Australian Open is in doubt after she retired from the ASB Classic in tears.
The 20-year-old, who won the US Open in 2021, picked up an ankle injury with her match against Viktoria Kuzmova at one set all – 6-0 5-7.
Emma Raducanu left the court in tears following her injury
She received treatment after losing the second set
Raducanu attempted to play through the injury
But she managed just two points of the deciding set before retiring
It comes less than a fortnight before the Australian Open is due to get underway.
The Brit breezed through the first set without dropping a game and went a break up in the second.
Kuzmova then broke the Raducanu serve twice but failed to close out the set as the British Grand Slam champion fought back to level at 5-5.
But when serving to stay in the set she was broken by world No155 Kuzmova as the match prepared to enter a decider.
There was then a medical timeout as a physio worked at length on Raducanu’s ankle.
The US Open champion, currently ranked 78th in the world, was passed fit to continue as she returned to the court for her first service game of the third set.
But just two points later she was forced to retire due to the injury.
It now raises question marks as to whether she will be fit in time for the Australian Open which begins on January 16.
Raducanu has been plagued with injuries ever since her US Open triumph 16 months ago.
She made her debut at the Melbourne Grand Slam last year, exiting in the second round.
Raducanu failed to reach the third round of any of the four Slam events in 2022 as she suffered with several injury issues.
Last year, her season was cut short following a wrist problem.
