Emma Raducanu’s next match is expected to come at the China Open in Beijing, where she appears on the entry list for the WTA 1000 event beginning September 30, 2026. However, her exact opponent and start time remain unconfirmed until the tournament draw is released.
The British star has not competed since mid-June, when she reached the Queen’s Club final before a stress fracture in her right leg forced her out of both Wimbledon and the US Open. Her return would mark the end of a nearly three-month absence from competitive tennis.
The Injury That Sidetracked Her Season
Raducanu’s last match came at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, where she produced one of her strongest runs in years by reaching the final before losing 6-0, 7-6(6) to Donna Vekic. That performance suggested she was recapturing form after years of inconsistent results.
The injury surfaced shortly after that tournament. Raducanu felt discomfort in her leg, and scans confirmed a stress fracture that ruled her out of Wimbledon and the US Open. Missing two Grand Slam tournaments represents a significant setback for a player still searching for consistency since her breakthrough 2021 US Open title.
Positive signs have emerged in recent weeks. Raducanu was spotted training at the LTA National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, and she shared video of herself hitting serves without a protective boot. These developments indicate her rehabilitation is progressing toward competitive readiness.
China Open Entry Provides Comeback Platform
The China Open announced its entry list in early September, and Raducanu’s name appeared among 11 Grand Slam singles champions set to compete in Beijing. The tournament runs from September 30 to October 11 at the National Tennis Center.
Her participation, however, is not guaranteed. Raducanu has a history of entering tournaments after injury breaks and then withdrawing before play begins. This pattern means her Beijing appearance remains a strong possibility rather than a certainty until the draw is finalized.
Last year’s China Open offered a painful reminder of how close Raducanu has come to signature wins. She held three match points against Jessica Pegula in the third round before falling 3-6, 7-6(9), 6-0. Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, saved those match points with two backhand winners and eventually dominated the deciding set.Quick Bio: Emma Raducanu
Ranking Pressure Adds Urgency to Return
Raducanu’s ranking has taken a significant hit during her absence. She currently sits at No. 70 in the official WTA rankings, but her live ranking has dropped to No. 89. This slide reflects the points she has lost from last year’s hardcourt season.
The stakes extend beyond tournament seeding. If Raducanu falls outside the top 100, she would need to enter qualifying draws for future Grand Slam events rather than receiving direct entry into main draws. That scenario would place additional physical demands on a player already dealing with durability concerns.
Her situation differs from previous injury comebacks because she lacks the protected ranking cushion that helped her enter elite events in past returns. The WTA 1000 events require higher rankings for direct entry, meaning Raducanu may need to rely on wildcards or qualifying depending on how far her ranking drops.
Challenges Awaiting in Beijing
The conditions in Beijing present a formidable test for any player returning from a long layoff. Raducanu will likely face a first-round match against a seeded opponent or a qualifier finding rhythm, with no opportunity for a gradual adjustment to competitive pace.
Unlike the 2025 China Open, when she received a first-round bye, Raducanu will need to play from the opening day unless her ranking secures a seeding that grants a bye. Her current ranking does not place her among the seeded players.
The Asian swing also follows a demanding travel schedule. After Beijing, the Wuhan Open offers another WTA 1000 opportunity, but Raducanu struggled with the heat in Wuhan last year. Those conditions could complicate her ability to build match fitness across consecutive tournaments.
A Career at a Crossroads
Raducanu’s story remains one of the most compelling in tennis. She became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title at the 2021 US Open, rising from No. 150 to No. 23 in the rankings. Congratulatory messages arrived from Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, underscoring the cultural moment her victory created.
Five years later, the narrative has shifted from potential to resilience. Raducanu has shown flashes of top-level tennis, including her Queen’s Club run and a competitive loss to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. Converting those performances into sustained results requires staying healthy, something that has eluded her repeatedly.
The China Open represents more than a tournament entry. It offers a chance to salvage a season disrupted by injury and to protect a ranking that determines her access to the sport’s biggest stages. Whether Raducanu steps onto court in Beijing remains uncertain, but the intention is clear.
For now, the tennis world waits for the draw and for confirmation that the 2021 US Open champion is ready to compete again.FAQs About Emma Raducanu’s Next Match
When is Emma Raducanu expected to play her next match?
Raducanu is entered in the China Open, a WTA 1000 event in Beijing scheduled to begin on September 30, 2026 . She appears on the tournament entry list, but her exact first-round date and opponent will only be confirmed once the official draw is released. The WTA main draw singles competition runs through October 11 .
Why has Raducanu been out of competition for so long?
Raducanu suffered a stress fracture in her lower right leg in late June 2026, which forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon just hours before her scheduled first-round match . The injury also caused her to miss the US Open in August, extending her absence to nearly three months . She had been managing the injury during her run to the Queen’s Club final in June, where she lost to Donna Vekic .
What is Raducanu’s current ranking and does it affect her China Open entry?
Raducanu currently holds an official WTA singles ranking of No. 70, though her live ranking has dropped lower due to points lost during her absence . Unlike the 2025 China Open, when she was seeded 30th and received a first-round bye, she will not be seeded this year and must play from the opening round . Her ranking position also means she cannot rely on protected seeding status for future WTA 1000 events.
How did Raducanu perform at the China Open in 2025?
In her only previous China Open appearance, Raducanu reached the third round after defeating Cristina Bucsa in straight sets . She then faced Jessica Pegula and held three match points before losing 3-6, 7-6(9), 6-0 in a dramatic tie-break collapse . The match marked her second consecutive loss after holding match points, following a similar defeat to Barbora Krejcikova in Seoul days earlier .
Is Raducanu’s participation in Beijing officially confirmed?
No official confirmation from Raducanu or her team has been reported as of mid-September 2026. Her name appears on the China Open entry list, which is a positive indicator of her intended return . However, she has previously withdrawn from tournaments after being listed, and the mandatory nature of WTA 1000 events means players often enter while still assessing fitness . Final confirmation typically comes when the draw is released.
