Emma Raducanu’s return to form was dealt another setback as she retired from her first-round match at the Wuhan Open, struggling visibly in the humid Chinese conditions against American Ann Li.
The British No 1 was trailing 6-1, 4-1 when she called time on the contest after a medical timeout, appearing disoriented and drained during the second set.
The 22-year-old, who has shown some positive signs of improvement this year, began brightly by breaking Li in the opening game.
Yet her early energy quickly faded as the American found her rhythm, reeling off six consecutive games to claim the first set in just 28 minutes.
Li’s aggressive baseline play and crisp ball-striking proved too much for Raducanu, who increasingly struggled with unforced errors and a lack of power on serve.
As the second set began, Raducanu’s discomfort became more apparent.
She double-faulted four times in her opening service game, bending down between points and gesturing to her box as if unsure whether she could continue.
Emma Raducanu’s return to form was dealt another setback as she retired from her first-round match at the Wuhan Open, struggling visibly in the humid Chinese conditions against American Ann Li
|REUTERS
Although she managed to hold serve, the effort seemed to take its toll.
Li raced into a 4-1 lead before Raducanu requested medical assistance, with the tennis star having her blood pressure and pulse checked.
Moments later, after a brief consultation with the trainer, she walked to the net and shook hands with her opponent, conceding the match.
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Sadly Emma Raducanu has had to retire from her match against Ann Li in Wuhan
— LTA (@the_LTA) October 7, 2025
Get well soon, @EmmaRaducanu #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/nIYAYoSR5i
Li, who advances to face Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round, expressed concern for her opponent afterwards.
“I want to wish Emma a fast recovery. It looks like she wasn’t feeling good,” said the American.
“It was a tough match last time, so hopefully she feels better. I’m happy with my performance, I stayed pretty solid for the entire match.”
Raducanu’s retirement makes her the latest in a growing list of players forced to withdraw during the demanding Asian leg of the WTA Tour.
The combination of long-haul travel, tight scheduling, and challenging conditions has sparked criticism from within the sport, with six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek recently describing the calendar as “overwhelming” and calling for greater protection for players.
For Raducanu, the retirement raises further questions about her physical readiness as she continues to rebuild her career.
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Emma Raducanu appeared uncomfortable during her Wuhan Open match
|GETTY
Despite flashes of her old brilliance, she has struggled to maintain momentum, and her conditioning has often come under scrutiny.
The Wuhan humidity only added to the strain, forcing her to halt a match she seemed increasingly powerless to influence.
The defeat is a disappointment after signs of progress in recent weeks, and it leaves the British star with little time to regroup before the tour heads to Beijing.
With her season now entering its closing stages, Raducanu will be eager to avoid any further setbacks as she looks to regain consistency and confidence ahead of 2026.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Naomi Osaka edged a thrilling three-set victory over Leylah Fernandez, coming from behind to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, while Amanda Anisimova withdrew from the tournament with a calf injury sustained during her triumph at the China Open on Sunday.