Emma Raducanu drops out of Billie Jean King Cup Finals to play clashing Korea Open

Emma Raducanu has decided against playing in the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, opting to travel to South Korea to play in the Korea Open after receiving a wildcard for the 500 event.

After a rejuvinating 2025 campaign, Raducanu is targetting more progression up the rankings as she sits right on the edge of a place in the luxurious top 32. Despite it aiding her career, it is a massive blow to the Great British team, with team captain Anna Keothavong now with a tough choice of who to replace her, joining Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Jodie Burrage on the plane to China. They will face Japan in their opening match, led by Naomi Osaka, who recently made an incredible run to the US Open semi-final.

Along with time to carry on the positive start with her new coach, Francisco Roig, but to claim important ranking points. She achieved a quarter-final at the event last year, risking a drop down the rankings if unable to progress. In last year's event, she defeated Peyton Stearns and Yue Yuan in straight sets, but was forced to retire agianst the number one seed and eventual runner-up Daria Kasatkina due to injury.

This is not the first time that Raducanu has opted to focus on herself instead of her country, deciding not to participate in a qualifier earlier this year against the Netherlands and Germany in The Hague. She chose to complete a training block, preparing for the clay swing in the calendar. Even though she was not needed, it could be a different story in the quarter-finals. She also withdrew before a qualifier against France back in 2023, but that was for different reasons, citing a wrist injury.

Raducanu has cannoned herself past Katie Boulter to be reinstated as the British number one, making her the first name on the teamsheet. She has also proved to be a big hit on court, winning her last five consecutive singles matches whilst playing for her country. This remarkable feat includes three ties at last year's Finals, in which the British team reached the semi-finals.

The nation has never won the cup before, and last reached the final back in 1981. They faced Slovakia in the semi-finals, where Raducanu produced a solid display against Viktoria Hruncakova, defeating her opponent 6-4, 6-4. Boulter had the chance to seal their place in the final, but failed to overcome Slovakian number one Rebecca Sramkova. They needed to come out on top in the doubles to face the favourites Italy in the final, but Heather Watson and Olivia Nichols could not complete the task in a close match of tennis, leaving the British team yet again empty-handed.

This was the second semi-final acheived in three years after producing similar results in Glasgow in 2022, narrowly losing in the doubles match to Australia in front of a passionate home crowd. Raducanu was not in this squad due to halting her season early due to consistent injury problems and setbacks. They will be hoping to go at least one step further in Shenzhen, which would mark their fifth appearance in a BJK Cup final, previously reaching it in 1967, 1971, 1972, and 1981.

The quarter-final is set to take place on the 15th September. If they come out on top, then they will have a tough test in the form of either Kazakhstan or the USA. This will be played on the 20th September, with the final on the 21st. In the other half of the draw, last year's victors Italy face-off against hosts China, while Spain take on Ukraine.