Emma Raducanu was not included in the Great Britain roster for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals scheduled for late September in Shenzhen, China. The 23‑year‑old British No.1 was the most conspicuous omission as captain Anne Keothavong announced a squad consisting of Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage. Raducaru's absence follows a prolonged period of inactivity; the last match she played was on June 14, when she staged a career‑best run on grass to reach the Queen's Club final before an injury forced her out for the remainder of the season. The injury in question was a stress fracture in the lower right leg, which compelled her to withdraw from Wimbledon shortly after her impressive performance at Queen's.
Since that withdrawal, Raducanu has not competed in any professional event for more than six weeks, and her recovery timetable remains uncertain. While the British team’s qualifying triumph over Australia in April saw her omitted from that squad as well, the latest decision suggests that her fitness is still in doubt as the finals approach. The Billie Jean King Cup format permits the addition of a fifth player close to the tournament date, which runs from September 22 to September 27.
However, as of now the team will travel to Shenzhen with only the four selected players. This development has reignited speculation about Raducanu's readiness for the upcoming US Open, the Grand Slam she famously won in 2021 as a teenager.
The US Open begins on August 30 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app. Raducanu's omission marks a stark contrast to the previous year, when she withdrew from the British Billie Jean King Cup squad in order to focus on a WTA event in Seoul, South Korea. Her decision at that time was driven by a desire to gain match practice ahead of the US Open, but the current injury setback has forced a more cautious approach.
The British side, without her, managed to defeat Japan and advance to a third consecutive semi‑final, where they eventually fell to the United States. Looking ahead, Great Britain’s 2026 Billie Jean King Cup campaign will open with a quarter‑final against the Czech Republic, a nation that has captured the title eleven times. The winner of that tie will meet either Spain or Kazakhstan in the semi‑finals.
Defending champions Italy will start their title defence against China, while Ukraine and Belgium will contest the remaining quarter‑final on the opposite side of the draw. Captain Keothavong expressed confidence in her selections, stating on the LTA website, "It’s a great achievement to reach the Billie Jean King Cup Finals again and I am naming my initial nominations for the GB team.
I’m pleased to select Katie Boulter, who knows what it’s like to step up on occasions like this, and the three women who played with so much heart and courage to upset Australia earlier this year, namely Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage. Czechia will be a very challenging first match for us but the players and I believe in our chances, since we have a very strong record in recent finals." The schedule, listed in UK and Ireland times, is as follows: - Tuesday, September 22 – Czech Republic vs Great Britain (10:00) - Wednesday, September 23 – Spain vs Kazakhstan (10:00) - Thursday, September 24 – Ukraine vs Belgium (03:00) and China vs Italy (no earlier than 10:00) - Friday, September 25 – Winner of quarter‑final 1 vs winner of quarter‑final 2 (10:00) - Saturday, September 26 – Winner of quarter‑final 3 vs winner of quarter‑final 4 (10:00) - Sunday, September 27 – Winner of semi‑final 1 vs winner of semi‑final 2 (10:00) For tennis fans, Sky Sports will continue to provide live coverage of both the ATP and WTA tours as well as the US Open from August 30 onward. Subscribers can also stream matches via NOW or the Sky Sports app, which promises over 50 percent more live sport this year at no additional charge.
Additional resources such as an A‑Z guide to tennis terminology, match highlights, interviews, and video analysis are available on the Sky Sports platform and its WhatsApp news service. In summary, Emma Raducanu’s current injury situation has kept her out of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and casts a shadow over her participation in the forthcoming US Open.
The British team will compete without her, relying on the experience and determination of Boulter, Dart, Stojsavljevic and Burrage to pursue another deep run in the competition. The coming weeks will be crucial for Raducanu’s rehabilitation, and tennis observers will be watching closely to see when she can return to the court at her previous high level.