Emma Raducanu will not be part of the Great Britain lineup for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals scheduled for September in Shenzhen, China. The 23‑year‑old British No.1 was the most noticeable omission when captain Anne Keothavong announced a team that includes Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage.
Raducanu has been absent from competitive tennis since mid‑June, when she produced a career‑best run on grass at the Queen’s Club Championships, reaching the final before an injury forced her out for the remainder of the season. The injury saga began shortly after that impressive performance. Raducanu suffered a stress fracture in the lower right leg, which compelled her to withdraw from Wimbledon. The fracture kept her off the court for roughly six weeks, and she has not played a match since the Queen’s final on June 14.
While the British tennis federation has not issued an official statement linking her omission to her health, the timing suggests that her ongoing recovery played a major role in the decision. It also means that she missed the team’s successful qualifying tie against Australia in April, a match in which she was fit enough to be considered but ultimately not selected. Team GB currently has the option to add a fifth player closer to the start of the tournament, which runs from September 22 to September 27.
However, given the current state of Raducaru’s rehabilitation, it appears unlikely that she will be called up at the last minute. The decision to leave her out of the squad also raises fresh questions about her readiness for the upcoming US Open, the Grand Slam she captured in dramatic fashion in 2021. The US Open kicks off on August 30 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app.
If Raducanu’s leg does not heal sufficiently, she could miss another major tournament, a scenario that would be a major disappointment for both the player and her fans. The British team’s performance without Raducanu has been solid. In her absence, Great Britain defeated Japan to secure a third consecutive semi‑final appearance in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Their run, however, ended at the semi‑final stage when they were beaten by the United States. Looking ahead to the 2026 edition of the competition, Great Britain opens its campaign with a quarter‑final clash against the Czech Republic, a nation that has won the title eleven times. The winner of that tie will face either Spain or Kazakhstan in the next round. Defending champions Italy will begin their title defence against China, while Ukraine and Belgium will meet in the opposite half 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 for the Finals, all times listed in UK and Ireland, is as follows: - Tuesday, September 22 – Czech Republic vs Great Britain (10:00 AM) - Wednesday, September 23 – Spain vs Kazakhstan (10:00 AM) - Thursday, September 24 – Ukraine vs Belgium (3:00 AM) and China vs Italy (no earlier than 10:00 AM) - Friday, September 25 – Winner of quarter‑final 1 vs Winner of quarter‑final 2 (10:00 AM) - Saturday, September 26 – Winner of quarter‑final 3 vs Winner of quarter‑final 4 (10:00 AM) - Sunday, September 27 – Winner of semi‑final 1 vs Winner of semi‑final 2 (10:00 AM) For tennis enthusiasts, Sky Sports will continue to provide live coverage of both the ATP and WTA tours, as well as the US Open, starting August 30. Subscribers can also stream the action via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app, which offers more than 50% additional live sport content at no extra charge this year.
Those interested in deeper insights can follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest news, videos, features, and analysis, as well as consult the A‑Z guide to tennis terminology for a better understanding of the sport’s jargon. In summary, Emma Raducanu’s exclusion from the Billie Jean King Cup squad underscores the lingering impact of her recent injury and casts uncertainty over her participation in the imminent US Open.
While Great Britain moves forward with a strong contingent of Boulter, Dart, Stojsavljevic and Burrage, the British camp will be closely monitoring Raducanu’s rehabilitation progress, hoping she can return to full fitness in time for future events.