Emma Raducanu will not be part of the Great Britain line‑up for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals slated for September in Shenzhen, China. The 23‑year‑old British No.1 was the most conspicuous omission as captain Anne Keothavong announced a squad featuring Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage. Raducanu’s absence is directly linked to the injury setbacks that have kept her off the court since mid‑June.
The last time Raducaru competed was at the Queen’s Club Championships, where she produced a career‑best run on grass, reaching the final before her campaign was halted by a lingering injury. Shortly after that performance, a stress fracture in the lower‑right leg forced her to pull out of Wimbledon, and she has not played a competitive match for six weeks.
While the British tennis federation has not issued an official statement confirming the exact reason for her exclusion, the timing suggests that her ongoing rehabilitation has cost her a place in the BJK Cup roster. Notably, she was also left out of the squad that secured a qualifying win over Australia in April, despite being fit at that time.
The tournament format allows for a fifth player to be added closer to the start date, which runs from 22 to 27 September, but as of now the team remains a four‑person contingent. The decision to leave Raducanu out raises fresh concerns about her readiness for the upcoming US Open, the Grand Slam she famously captured in 2021 as a qualifier. The US Open begins on 30 August and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options on NOW and the Sky Sports app.
If her recovery does not progress as hoped, she may miss the American major as well, further extending her period away from top‑level competition. Great Britain’s recent Billie Jean King Cup campaign has been impressive despite Raducanu’s absence. The team defeated Japan to secure a third consecutive semi‑final appearance, only to be eliminated by the United States. Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, Great Britain will open with a quarter‑final clash against the eleven‑time champions, the Czech Republic.
A win would set up a potential semi‑final against either Spain or Kazakhstan. Defending champions Italy will face China, while Ukraine and Belgium contest the other quarter‑final on the opposite side 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, listed in UK and Ireland times, is as follows: - Tuesday 22 September: Czech Republic vs Great Britain (10:00) - Wednesday 23 September: Spain vs Kazakhstan (10:00) - Thursday 24 September: Ukraine vs Belgium (03:00) and China vs Italy (not before 10:00) - Friday 25 September: Winner of quarter‑final 1 vs winner of quarter‑final 2 (10:00) - Saturday 26 September: Winner of quarter‑final 3 vs winner of quarter‑final 4 (10:00) - Sunday 27 September: Winner of semi‑final 1 vs winner of semi‑final 2 (10:00) For tennis fans, Sky Sports is promoting extensive coverage of the US Open and other major events, promising more than 50 percent additional live sport for its subscribers at no extra charge. Viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. Raducanu’s omission comes a year after she withdrew from the British Billie Jean King Cup team to compete in the Korea Open on the WTA Tour, a decision that highlighted her desire to focus on individual events while managing her physical condition. The current situation underscores the delicate balance elite athletes must strike between recovery and competition.
Should her rehabilitation progress smoothly, there remains a possibility that she could be added as the optional fifth member later in the week, but the likelihood appears slim given the proximity of the tournament and the need for match‑ready fitness. In summary, Emma Raducanu’s injury woes have not only kept her off the court for half a month but also sidelined her from representing Great Britain at one of the sport’s most prestigious team events. The decision casts a shadow over her prospects for the US Open, where expectations remain high after her fairy‑tale triumph in New York two years ago.
As the Billie Jean King Cup Finals approach, the British team will rely on the experience and tenacity of Boulter, Dart, Stojsavljevic and Burrage to compete against a formidable Czech side, while fans watch closely to see when—or if—Raducanu will return to the top tier of women’s tennis.