Britain's top-ranked tennis player Emma Raducanu has pulled out of two high-profile exhibition matches scheduled for December in the United States, sacrificing substantial appearance fees in the process.
The 23-year-old will not compete in Newark and Miami on 7-8 December due to bone bruising affecting her right foot.
The withdrawal represents a significant financial setback for the 2021 US Open champion, who stands to forfeit hundreds of thousands of pounds in guaranteed payments.
Reports indicate the British number one could have earned six-figure sums for participating in the unofficial contests.
Emma Raducanu has struggled with injuries throughout her career
| PARaducanu had been scheduled to face American player Amanda Anisimova, who reached the finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open this summer.
American world number six Jessica Pegula will take Raducanu's place in both exhibition events.
The replacement will see Pegula compete against compatriot Anisimova at 'A Racquet at The Rock' in New Jersey before the action moves to Florida.
In Miami, Pegula will partner with Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz for a mixed doubles tiebreak match at the Miami Marlins' stadium. The format involves a first-to-10-point contest.
Alcaraz, who had previously teamed with Raducanu at the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship in New York, will face Frances Tiafoe in Newark and Brazil's Joao Fonseca at the Miami Invitational.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from two upcoming exhibition matches in the United States | PAExhibition matches typically command substantial appearance fees, with Alcaraz reportedly earning over £760,000 per match in similar events last year.
Despite the setback, Raducanu remains committed to her preparation schedule for the upcoming season.
The world number 29 will proceed with planned pre-season training in Barcelona under the guidance of Francisco Roig, the Spanish coach who previously worked alongside Rafael Nadal.
Roig joined Raducanu's coaching team during the off-season and has agreed to continue their collaboration into 2026.
The partnership has already shown promising results since beginning in the summer.
Additionally, Raducanu has strengthened her support team by bringing in Emma Stewart as her new physiotherapist.
Stewart arrives with impressive credentials, having previously served with the men's teams at British Rowing and contributing to Team GB's gold medal success at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Raducanu's representatives have characterised the injury as a precautionary concern rather than a serious long-term issue.
The decision to skip the lucrative exhibitions reflects her determination to begin 2026 in peak physical condition.
The British star aims to secure a seeded position for January's Australian Open, having climbed to 29th in the WTA rankings following a year of steady progress.
"I think I've just been happy with the improvements in the last few weeks I've made in my game, and I just want to keep going with that," Raducanu stated last month.
She remains on course to represent Britain at the United Cup alongside Jack Draper, facing Greece and Japan in group competition across Perth and Sydney.