Emma Raducanu Withdraws from Billie Jean King Cup Finals to Play Korea Open

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad for this month’s finals in Shenzhen and will instead accept a wildcard into the WTA Korea Open in Seoul, team and tournament sources reported on Friday.

The 22-year-old British No. 1 is not injured, officials said, but has opted to prioritise the Seoul tournament. The decision was disclosed to Team GB only on the morning it was announced and came as a surprise to the squad’s leadership, who described the development as a shock to preparations for the finals.

Raducanu was a central figure in Britain’s run to the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals last year in Malaga, winning all her matches as the country reached the last four. She has previously missed ties this year, withdrawing from the April group stage matches against Germany and the Netherlands; at that time she cited a need for rest after a busy schedule and a recent personal security incident.

This week’s choice to compete in Seoul rather than travel to Shenzhen will leave Britain without its highest-ranked player for the finals. Team GB will instead rely on players who stepped up during the group stage, including Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal, to contest the tournament in China.

Raducanu’s camp framed the move as tennis-focused, noting she has been working with new coach Francis Roig and wanted to continue momentum on hard courts after recent results on the North American swing. Tournament entries show Raducanu accepted a wildcard into the Korea Open, a WTA event that began attracting players preparing for the Asian hard-court season.

The Billie Jean King Cup remains a high-profile team competition and Britain has yet to win the title. Raducanu’s absence removes a top-ranked singles option from the British selection and is expected to alter the squad’s strategic planning for singles and doubles rubbers in Shenzhen.

Captaincy sources said they were informed of the withdrawal shortly before public announcement; the late timing limited immediate options for restructuring the team. Organisers of the Billie Jean King Cup finals confirmed the British squad will proceed without Raducanu and that schedules and matchups will be adjusted accordingly.

Raducanu’s decision has reignited debate over player availability for national team events in a crowded tour calendar. The WTA schedule this season has forced many players to balance ranking opportunities, coach and team changes, and personal circumstances when choosing tournaments. This year, Raducanu’s withdrawals from team ties and selective tournament scheduling have prompted questions about her future involvement in Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup campaigns.

Great Britain will travel to Shenzhen seeking its first Billie Jean King Cup title, with the next round of matches scheduled to begin later this month. The squad named to replace Raducanu will be confirmed by the national federation ahead of the opening tie.