Emma Raducanu forced to retire from Wuhan Open with dizziness as sweltering conditions continue to be factor

Emma Raducanu is out of the Wuhan Open at the very first hurdle but not for the want of trying with the former US Open champion forced to retire from her match with Ann Li as the sweltering conditions in China take another victim.

Raducanu looked languid and devoid of energy at the Wuhan Open as well as dizzy as she trailed 6-1, 4-1 before calling the trainer after falling a double break down in the second set before retiring. She had her blood pressure and temperature checked prior to that.

Raducanu would've been used to the conditions having played the last few weeks including losing to Jessica Pegula from a set up in Beijing. She also played in Korea before that losing to Barbora Krejcikova. But with temperatures soaring towards 34 degrees and being from a climate in the UK which only gets these temperatures for only a few days a year, it proved to be an arduous task.

Earlier this week, play was suspended on all courts in Wuhan as temperatures soared towards 35 and in Shanghai it has been rife in regards to retirements and near collapses. The ATP are seen to be monitoring it and could implement a heat rule it has been confirmed this morning with Holger Rune in particular complaining about it and asking why it's not in place before he beat Ugo Humbert on Monday.

Sinner retired from cramp in Shanghai earlier in the week while Djokovic puked during his win over Yannick Hanfmann and looked unwell at parts. The former was also known in these tournaments in the past for puking in a bin due to the conditions which ironically brought out the best version of the now World No.2.

Albeit Raducanu had a reason to be frustrated in that she could've forced her way towards the seeded positions for the Australian Open had she had a good run here with the tournaments running out before the end of the year. She has had a good season as a whole in comparison to her previous years since her US Open triumph and in reality, a situation like this while it can be prepared for isn't exactly ideal.