Emma Raducanu was not included in the Great Britain lineup for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals scheduled for late September in Shenzhen, China. The decision, announced by team captain Anne Keothavong, left the British No.1 as the most conspicuous omission while fellow players Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage earned spots on the roster.
Raducanu has not competed since mid‑June, when she delivered a career‑best performance on grass by reaching the final at the Queen's Club Championships. That impressive run was abruptly halted when a lingering injury forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon, where a stress fracture in the lower right leg forced her out of the tournament. The fracture has kept her off the court for roughly six weeks, and her recovery timeline remains uncertain. Although the British team’s qualifying victory over Australia in April took place while Raducanu was still fit, she was not selected for that tie either, suggesting that her recent injury woes have already begun to affect her national team prospects.
The Billie Jean King Cup rules allow each nation to add a fifth player closer to the event, which runs from September 22 to September 27, but as of now no further announcements have been made regarding a possible late inclusion. The timing of her omission raises fresh concerns about her readiness for the upcoming US Open, the Grand Slam she famously captured in 2021 as a qualifier. The tournament begins on August 30 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
If Raducanu’s leg has not fully healed, she could miss the chance to defend her title, a scenario that would be disappointing for both the player and her many fans. Great Britain’s campaign in the Billie Jean King Cup continues without her.
In her absence, the team defeated Japan to secure a third consecutive semi‑final appearance, only to fall to the United States. Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, Great Britain opens with a quarter‑final against the eleven‑time champions, the Czech Republic. A victory would set up a clash with either Spain or Kazakhstan in the next round.
Defending champions Italy will open against China, while Ukraine and Belgium will meet in the opposite half of the draw. Captain Keothavong explained her selections on the LTA website, saying, "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 for the finals, all times listed in UK and Ireland, 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 (not before 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) Fans can follow the latest developments, scores, and video highlights via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel, and they can stream the US Open and other tennis events through NOW or the Sky Sports app, which offers more than 50 % additional live sport coverage at no extra charge for Sky Sports customers.
While Raducanu’s exclusion from the Billie Jean King Cup squad is a clear signal that her injury is still a concern, it also underscores the depth of the British women’s tennis pool, which now includes several emerging talents ready to step onto the international stage. Whether she will be able to return to full fitness in time for the US Open remains to be seen, but her previous comeback from injury suggests she possesses the determination to overcome this setback as well.