Emma Raducanu handed tough draw at Eastbourne on return from back injury

Former US Open champion Raducanu took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss to Zheng Qinwen at Queen's Club last week, after which it was confirmed she would miss the Berlin Open, having been offered a wild card into the WTA 500 event.
All set on the South Coast 🌤️
Draws for the Brits & preview of the #LexusEastbourneOpen 👇
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 21, 2025
Raducanu had instead looked to prioritise rest and recovery to ensure she is fully fit for Wimbledon, which begins on June 30.
At last year's LTA event on the south coast, Raducanu claimed a first victory over a top-10 player by defeating Jessica Pegula before going on to make the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Seeded seventh in the draw for Eastbourne, Raducanu has been handed a first-round match against American Ann Li.
Should Raducanu progress through the top half of the draw, she could then come up against two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in the second round.
Defending Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina, the Australian world number 16, is also a potential opponent in the quarter-finals.
Emma Raducanu has been troubled by a back issue, which again flared up at Queen's (John Walton/PA)
Speaking about her fitness issues after playing at Queen's, Raducanu said: 'It's been lingering for the last few weeks and I have had back issues before.
'I think it's just a vulnerability of mine. I know I need to take good care of it.
'I'm not overly concerned that it's something serious, but I know it's something that's very annoying and needs proper and careful management.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

Emma Raducanu spotted watching US Open doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz at Queens after withdrawing from Wimbledon practice event with back pain

Emma Raducanu took a trip down to Queen's Club on Saturday to watch her US Open mixed doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz. The British No1 withdrew from the Berlin Open this week as she continues to manage back pain after a spasm. She is due to compete in Eastbourne next week but before that was spotted on the Queen's Club balcony with Myah Petchey, the daughter of her coach Mark, watching her friend Alcaraz beat fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 to reach the HSBC Championships final. Earlier this week, the US Open revealed the partnerships for their revamp, $1million mixed doubles event in 2025. Among the more eye-catching pairings was one featuring two former US Open singles champions. 'I was thinking that I couldn't play better if it wasn't with Emma,' said Alcaraz earlier this week. 'I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me. Yeah, I made that special request.' 'She took a while (to respond),' he joked. 'No, not that much, not that much. 'But obviously she had to ask, and she had to think a little bit. But it wasn't a minute, so...' 'She's going to be the boss,' the 22-year-old grinned after being asked how the pairing would work in practice. 'The US Open came to us and gave us the opportunities to play mixed doubles. I'm super excited about it. I think it's going to be great. It was an amazing idea for the tournament. 'I've known Emma since a really long time ago, so we know each other. I have a really good relationship with her. So it's just going to be interesting. 'We are going to enjoy it for sure. I will try to put my doubles skill on it. We will try to win. But obviously, it's going to be really, really fun.' Raducanu has been drawn to face American Ann Li in the first round at Eastbourne, with a possible second-round clash with two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur.

BBC News

an hour ago

• BBC News

Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka to reach Berlin Open final

Marketa Vondrousova beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the Berlin Open to reach her first final since winning the 2023 Wimbledon title. Vondrousova, who has been working her way back from shoulder surgery and is ranked 164th in the world, came through 6-2 6-4 and will play Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu in Sunday's showpiece in Germany."I didn't play for a long time. I am just happy to be back healthy and so grateful to play these matches," Czech Vondrousova said on the WTA Tour website."When I saw the field here, I was like, 'OK, let's just try to win the first round' and then, you know, now this is happening."Sabalenka saved two break points in the opening game but was broken in her second service game and again to trail 5-2 in the first three-time Grand Slam champion sealed a break at the first time of asking to lead 2-0 in the second but Vondrousova hit back immediately.A tense scrap ensued with the set staying on serve until 25-year-old Vondrousova broke for 5-4 and then served out the beat 2021 Berlin Open champion Liudmila Samsonova 6-4 6-1 in the other semi-final to reach her first WTA singles final."This week has been a dream for me," Wang said. "Coming into every match, I wasn't expecting anything, it was really just to enjoy the stage." Medvedev sees off second seed Zverev In another of the grass-court events leading up to Wimbledon, Daniil Medvedev held off a fightback from world number three Alexander Zverev to win 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 and reach Sunday's Halle Open will be a first final in 15 months for Medvedev, who will take on world number 45 Alexander Bublik after the Kazakh beat eighth seed Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. After taking the opening set against Zverev on a tie-break, world number 11 Medvedev wasted three match points in the second set, and required three hours and one minute to get the job done."I am happy with my level, I played great," Medvedev said. "I would have loved to finish on the match points [in the second set]. The first one I went for it and missed it. "The second one I went a bit slower to wait for a mistake and he made a great point. I am happy to win in the end."As was the case during his quarter-final victory on Friday, Medvedev needed treatment for a nosebleed at 4-4 in the opening Russian has lost five ATP finals in succession, with his last triumph coming at the Italian Open in May 2023.

Daily Record

2 hours ago

• Daily Record

Adam Scott opens up on Oakmont agony and shows his true colours at Travelers

The Aussie ace delivers scintillating Saturday as he refuses to let pain linger Determined Adam Scott has lifted the lid on the letdown of US Open heartbreak and his desire to fight straight back off the canvas at The Travelers. The Aussie ace put himself position to win a cherished second Major of his stellar career last week at Oakmont only to endure a last-day nightmare. ‌ As JJ Spaun pipped Bob MacIntyre to the title , Scott, who was playing his 96th straight Major, slipped back to be a late-Sunday also-ran with a torturous 79 and it was a bitter disappointment. ‌ The 44-year-old, who was aiming to add to his 2013 Masters success, didn't attempt to hide that it was a sore one to take, but Scot's response has been typical of the professionalism and outstanding attitude which has made him one of the most admired and respected stars in the game. The Adelaide-man built back up through the opening two days at TPC River Highlands before unleashing a stunning eight-under par round of 62 on Saturday. It equalled Scott's lowest-ever round on Tour and he outlined the drive to get back on the bike and go again after the anguish of the Oakmont finale. Asked if the US Open setback was a physical or mental drain, Scott said: 'It was a tough one. It was like a real letdown draining, not like a confidence and fatigue. It was a big letdown on Sunday last week. I knew I was going to have to play this week, but I actually think now the last couple years having these Signature Events after Majors, not that I've been in contention at all the Majors, but having to change my habits a little bit. 'For my whole career, I pretty much took every week off after a Major and, all of a sudden, we're playing big events right on the back of it. So I'm using Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday wisely, I think is big for me. ‌ 'I think just having been out here so long, knowing that it can be one round or one shot or something can really turn it around. I've got a lot of work to do for the rest of this season, there's still some big tournaments to play and I'd rather leave with the confidence shooting 62 than kind of mailing it in and maybe shooting 70 or 72 and not really getting anything out of it. I'm out here for a reason, so I'll try and get the most out of it if I can. 'I hate to say, but I feel more fatigue at this point in the season than I did 10 years ago. It's just a fact of the matter and it's smart if I take it pretty easy for a few days. Like definitely not come out to the course Monday, Tuesday, unless I've really got something to fix or need to do, but don't use the energy. Fortunately, I've been coming to these places a long time and know the course and it's really about conserving energy and just having a bit of recovery so that, hopefully, when you're in contention the next weekend, there's plenty in the tank still." Many stars have opined that the less-punishing nature of TPC River Highlands offers welcome respite post Oakmont, but Scott, who is likely to contend at The Open next month at Royal Portrush, smiled: 'I think the rough certainly in areas is longer than I've ever seen it here. Down the right of one on Thursday, I kind of hit a pretty okay tee shot just in the rough and like was hacking. I'm like: I can't believe this! 'But yes, generally, the way my the way my years gone where I've played not up to scratch, when you play the signature event and the Majors and a couple other tough events through Florida and it's hard to break par, I feel like I haven't really broken par very much. I haven't been playing horrible, but I haven't been playing great. So it's nice to have a round like today, we get it going a little bit.' Scott putted superbly and added: 'If I started talking to you about like how you manage these parts of the game, you'd think we're all crazy. But I didn't even feel like I had a problem putting yesterday. Yeah, I hit one off the green, but it was windy and quick. The I hit good putts and they didn't go in. Nothing felt bad other than they missed, they lipped out and they burned the edges and they added up to be a lot. 'It's super annoying, but I don't get discouraged by that because it doesn't feel bad. I hit a putt today that's the worst part I've hit in recent memory and it's one of my better rounds. That bothers me more. I didn't really change anything technically other than just something to allow a bit more freedom.'