Emma Raducanu denied wildcard as Brit handed harsh US Open setback

Emma Raducanu has not been given a wildcard for the upcoming Cincinnati Open in a major blow to her preparations for the US Open. Fellow Brits Katie Boulter and Jack Draper will play in the tournament this coming week but Cameron Norrie has withdrawn.Raducanu has been on the comeback trail following an injury-hit 2023, making it to the fourth round at Wimbledon and climbing back to 69th in the WTA’s world rankings.

Earlier this month, the Brit made it to the quarter-finals of the Citi Open, where she lost to eventual tournament winner Paula Badosa. But those promising signs were not enough to convince Cincinnati Open organisers to hand Raducanu a wildcard entry into the main draw of a tournament which is seen as key in top players’ preparation for the US Open – the last major of the season.

Caroline Wozniacki, Bianca Andreescu, Peyton Stearns and Caroline Dolehide have all been given wildcards into Cincinnati instead of Raducanu, who made history by winning the US Open as a teenage qualifier in 2021. The 21-year-old is set to arrive at Flushing Meadows later this month without having played in either of the two main warm-up tournaments: Toronto and Cincinnati. Raducanu’s lack of high-profile action will at least allow her to prioritise going into the US Open free from fitness concerns.

“I think the biggest lesson I’ve learnt in terms of injury recovery is not to rush back,” she recently told Marie Claire magazine. “My impatience is probably one of my biggest downfalls because I basically rushed the process of my recovery, and set myself back many months. “Instead of taking me four months to return to play, it took me eight, and it took me seven months without hitting balls, when I should have been hitting balls after a month and a half. So I think having people who are really strict with you in coming back from injury is important.

“People who are literally counting every shot that you hit and making it really scientific, not just on feeling, because sometimes your mind overtakes your body, and by pushing more you’re actually setting yourself back.” Britain’s current women’s No 1, Boulter, will play Magda Linette in her opening Cincinnati showdown, with either Liudmila Samsonova or Wang Xiyu waiting in the next round if she makes it through.

Draper has been handed a favourable draw on the men’s side, with a qualifier up first. But he could then face Stefanos Tsitsipas if they both win their upcoming matches.