Emma Raducanu was left out of the Great Britain squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, in late September. The 23‑year‑old British No.1 was the most prominent name missing from the roster announced by team captain Anne Keothavong, who instead selected Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage to represent the nation. 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 curtail the rest of her season.
A subsequent stress fracture in the lower‑right leg forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon, leaving her out of competitive tennis for roughly six weeks. Although the British federation has not issued an official statement linking her omission to her health, the timing suggests that her ongoing recovery played a decisive role. The same injury also kept her off the court for the team's qualifying victory over Australia in April, despite being fit enough to travel with the squad.
The Billie Jean King Cup rules allow a fifth player to be added shortly before the tournament begins, which runs from September 22 to September 27, but as of now no further changes have been announced. Raducanu's absence from the Shenzhen event raises fresh concerns about her readiness for the upcoming US Open, the Grand Slam she famously won as a 18‑year‑old in 2021. The US Open is set to kick off on August 30, and the British media has already begun questioning whether she will be physically capable of competing at the highest level in New York.
If her recovery does not progress as hoped, the tournament could be another missed opportunity for the former champion. Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup campaign continues without her. In Raducanu’s stead, the team defeated Japan to secure a third consecutive semi‑final appearance, only to be knocked out by the United States.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, Great Britain opens its quarter‑final against the eleven‑time champions, the Czech Republic. A win would set up a potential semi‑final clash with either Spain or Kazakhstan, depending on the outcome of that match‑up.
Defending champions Italy will face China in their opening tie, while Ukraine and Belgium will contest the remaining quarter‑final on the opposite side of the draw. Captain Keothavong praised her selections in a statement posted 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," she said. She added, "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, 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 who want to follow the action, Sky Sports will broadcast the US Open from August 30 onward, with additional streaming available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Subscribers can expect more than half of the live sport coverage to be available at no extra charge this year. Those interested in deeper analysis, match highlights, and player interviews can also tune in to Sky’s dedicated tennis coverage, which includes an A‑Z guide to tennis terminology and regular video updates.
In summary, Emma Raducanu’s omission from the Billie Jean King Cup squad underscores the lingering impact of her recent injury and casts doubt on her participation in the forthcoming US Open. While Great Britain moves forward with a strong contingent of emerging talent, the British tennis community will be watching closely to see when the former Grand Slam champion can return to full fitness and reclaim her place on the international stage.