Emma Raducanu was omitted from 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, who captured worldwide attention with her stunning 2021 US Open triumph, was the most conspicuous absentee as captain Anne Keothavong announced a squad comprising Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic and Jodie Burrage. Raducanu has not competed since mid‑June, when she produced a career‑best performance on grass by reaching the Queen's Club final, only to have her season abruptly halted by injury.
The young Briton suffered a stress fracture in the lower right leg that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon, and she has remained sidelined for roughly six weeks. While the British tennis federation has not issued an official statement linking her injury to the exclusion, the timing suggests that her ongoing recovery played a pivotal role in the decision.
Notably, Raducanu was also left out of the squad that secured a qualifying victory over Australia in April, despite being fit at that time, indicating that the team management may be prioritising players who have demonstrated recent match fitness. The Billie Jean King Cup format permits the addition of a fifth player closer to the tournament dates, which run from September 22 to September 27. However, even if a late inclusion were possible, Raducanu’s physical condition would need to be sufficiently advanced to handle the rigors of back‑to‑back international matches.
The uncertainty surrounding her health has also sparked fresh speculation about her readiness for the upcoming US Open, which commences on August 30 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The tournament, where she achieved a fairy‑tale victory in 2021, could become a critical test of her comeback. Great Britain’s campaign in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup sees the team already advancing to a third consecutive semi‑final after defeating Japan in the quarter‑finals. The semi‑final will pit them against the United States, a formidable opponent that ultimately ended Britain’s run.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, Great Britain is slated to open with a quarter‑final clash against the Czech Republic, the eleven‑time champions of the competition. A win would set up a potential semi‑final against either Spain or Kazakhstan, depending on the outcome of the other quarter‑final. Defending champions Italy will begin 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 satisfaction with 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 (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) Beyond the Billie Jean King Cup, tennis fans can look forward to extensive coverage of the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open, starting August 30. Sky Sports will broadcast the events live, and subscribers can also stream via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app, which promises over 50 % more live sport this year at no additional cost.
For those seeking deeper insight into the sport, Sky Sports offers a range of additional content, including match analysis, player interviews, and an A‑Z guide to tennis terminology. While Raducanu’s immediate future remains uncertain, her absence from the Billie Jean King Cup squad underscores the challenges she faces in returning to top‑level competition and sets the stage for a closely watched comeback at the US Open later this summer.