Emma Raducanu adds new tournament to schedule after criticism for skipping qualifying

Emma Raducanu is building up her schedule after skipping two qualifying tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati.
The Brit did not get into the main draw for either of the WTA 1000 events and faced criticism when she chose not to compete in the preliminary rounds.

But Raducanu is already looking ahead, as she has committed to a new tournament later this season. The world No. 71 is next expected to be in action at the US Open, where she is a former champion. Despite a strong start to the American summer, she decided not to try and qualify for the Canadian Open or the Cincinnati Open.

Instead, Raducanu flew home to the UK to continue training. It divided opinion, with a former Olympic champion among those to publicly question her. But the 21-year-old has shown her commitment to playing more matches after the US Open by signing up to a WTA 250 event in China.

Raducanu will play in the Hong Kong Open, taking place from October 28. Defending champion Leylah Fernandez – who famously lost to Raducanu in the 2021 US Open final – headlines the field. Chinese tennis stars Wang Xinyu and Wany Xiyu will also be in the draw.

The former US Open winner’s scheduling decisions have often come under scrutiny. Earlier this year, she cut her clay season short and pulled out of the qualifying event at the French Open to get more grass-court preparation.

It paid off – she reached the semi-final in Nottingham, the quarters in Eastbourne and the last 16 at Wimbledon. But the former world No. 10 has since raised more eyebrows with her choices.

She proved her doubters wrong after skipping the Olympics to go straight to the North American hard-court swing and got to the quarter-final of the WTA 500 event in Washington, losing a close one to Paula Badosa. But Raducanu hasn’t played since.

While the 21-year-old hasn’t addressed her critics after snubbing qualifying events in Toronto and Cincinnati, her coach’s sibling offered an explanation. Raducanu is currently working with Nick Cavaday whose sister Naomi is a well-known commentator.

While calling a match for Sky Sports this week, Naomi said: “I think viewing it as extra matches, she got some wins in Washington, pretty happy with the level. Body feeling it a touch, trying to keep that managed.

“I mean, I think if she’d have had a wildcard into the main draw, she would have considered playing. I’m sure she considered playing in qualifying as well. I’m not privy to the scheduling decisions I’m afraid.”