Emma Raducanu Retires from Korea Open Due to Foot Injury

Emma Raducanu‘s ongoing struggles with injury reemerged during her Korea Open quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina, leading to her retirement from the match. The 21-year-old British tennis player withdrew after losing the first set 6-1 due to a foot problem. Raducanu had previously experienced a successful run in Seoul, defeating top-50 players Peyton Stearns and Yuan en route to the last eight.

During the match against 13th-ranked Kasatkina, Raducanu showed signs of discomfort early on. Despite a brief comeback where she broke Kasatkina’s serve, the Russian soon regained control and secured the first set. After consulting with medical staff regarding her left foot, Raducanu decided not to continue.

The injury first appeared during Raducanu’s round of 16 match against Yuan, where she paused for a medical timeout but managed to finish the game with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. Speaking after the match, Kasatkina expressed sympathy for Raducanu, stating, “I feel sorry for Emma. It’s a pity to get injured, especially in the deeper stages of the tournament. I wish her a speedy recovery.”

Kasatkina advanced to the semi-finals and faced another Russian player, Diana Shnaider, later the same day. Their match was rescheduled due to heavy rain on Friday, which had caused significant delays in the tournament schedule.

Meanwhile, Beatriz Haddad Maia from Brazil secured her spot in the final after overcoming both Polina and Veronika Kudermetova with decisive victories. Haddad Maia is set to play against Kasatkina in the final.

Raducanu, who has struggled with various injuries throughout her young career, including surgeries on her wrists and ankle, had hoped to regain her form during the autumn hard-court swing in Asia. As she looks forward, Raducanu aims to recover in time for the upcoming WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, scheduled to start Wednesday.