Emma Raducanu Pulls Out of Exhibition Events to Focus on Fitness Ahead of 2026 Season
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from two upcoming exhibition matches in the United States, citing a light bone bruising injury on her right foot that may impact her fitness levels. The move is seen as a strategic decision by the 23-year-old to prioritize regaining full fitness for the start of the 2026 season.
Raducanu was initially set to face Amanda Anisimova in two matches in Newark and Miami early next month, but has been replaced by Jessica Pegula. Sources close to Raducanu suggest that she is taking a proactive approach to addressing her physical struggles, which have hindered her performance throughout the 2025 season.
Her decision comes after a tumultuous year marked by physical issues, including double wrist surgery and subsequent ranking drops from outside 300 to inside the top 30. Despite this, Raducanu has shown remarkable resilience, pushing herself back up the rankings in just two years.
Raducanu's coach, Francisco Roig, has been instrumental in helping her develop a solid fitness plan. The partnership with Roig looks set to play a crucial role in Raducanu's future success, and insiders believe it may be one of the most successful coaching relationships she has had to date.
Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this year, commentator Jonathan Overend highlighted the challenges Raducanu faced throughout 2025. "Getting over the line and beating top-10 players remains a problem for her," he said. "Staying fully fit and well, because the back has been an issue."
With Raducanu now focusing on regaining full fitness, she may already have secured herself a seeding at the Australian Open in January, which would boost her chances of avoiding challenging draws at Grand Slams. If so, this would be a significant turning point for her career, and one that could propel her towards a successful 2026 season.
Raducanu's decision to prioritize fitness is a testament to her dedication and commitment to improving her game. As she looks ahead to the 2026 season, one thing is clear: the stage is set for Raducanu to make a major impact on the tennis world.
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from two upcoming exhibition matches in the United States, citing a light bone bruising injury on her right foot that may impact her fitness levels. The move is seen as a strategic decision by the 23-year-old to prioritize regaining full fitness for the start of the 2026 season.
Raducanu was initially set to face Amanda Anisimova in two matches in Newark and Miami early next month, but has been replaced by Jessica Pegula. Sources close to Raducanu suggest that she is taking a proactive approach to addressing her physical struggles, which have hindered her performance throughout the 2025 season.
Her decision comes after a tumultuous year marked by physical issues, including double wrist surgery and subsequent ranking drops from outside 300 to inside the top 30. Despite this, Raducanu has shown remarkable resilience, pushing herself back up the rankings in just two years.
Raducanu's coach, Francisco Roig, has been instrumental in helping her develop a solid fitness plan. The partnership with Roig looks set to play a crucial role in Raducanu's future success, and insiders believe it may be one of the most successful coaching relationships she has had to date.
Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this year, commentator Jonathan Overend highlighted the challenges Raducanu faced throughout 2025. "Getting over the line and beating top-10 players remains a problem for her," he said. "Staying fully fit and well, because the back has been an issue."
With Raducanu now focusing on regaining full fitness, she may already have secured herself a seeding at the Australian Open in January, which would boost her chances of avoiding challenging draws at Grand Slams. If so, this would be a significant turning point for her career, and one that could propel her towards a successful 2026 season.
Raducanu's decision to prioritize fitness is a testament to her dedication and commitment to improving her game. As she looks ahead to the 2026 season, one thing is clear: the stage is set for Raducanu to make a major impact on the tennis world.
i'm so hyped for emma raducanu!!! 
she's been through so much already in her career and it's amazing to see her taking proactive steps to prioritize her fitness 
... double wrist surgery and all that drama, but she's still pushing herself to be better 
... i love how her coach francisco roig is helping her develop a solid fitness plan 
... if she gets seeded at the aus open, it's gonna be a game changer for her career 
can't wait to see what 2026 brings! 
Emma Raducanu is being super responsible about her health. I mean, we all know how it can affect your game 
. Double wrist surgery and ranking drops? That's crazy talk! 
But seriously, it takes a big person to take a step back, focus on their fitness, and come back stronger 
. Her coach Francisco Roig is pretty smart too 
. I'm hyped for her comeback and the Aussie Open seeding potential 
. She's got this! 
I think it's great that Emma Raducanu is prioritizing her fitness, especially after a tough year with physical issues 
you know emma raducanu's decision to pull out of those exhibition matches is actually a pretty smart move. she's always been super young and talented, but her career's taken some hits with all the injuries 
her partnership with coach francisco roig is definitely looking promising, and if they can help her stay healthy and focused, watch out for her in 2026! 
sounds like she's going through some tough times physically, but she's taking care of herself and prioritizing her fitness. that's so brave of her, especially after dealing with all those injuries and ranking drops last year 
. That partnership must be key in helping her overcome those physical struggles from last year. And I think it's safe to say she'll definitely have a better chance at the Australian Open with a bit of extra preparation under her belt 
. Fingers crossed for her in 2026!
.
.
. Everyone knows how tough the tour can be, especially for young players like her. I mean, 23 and already dealing with wrist surgery? That's crazy talk 
. But she's already bounced back so strong, and if she's putting in the work now, that just means she'll be ready to rock when it matters most 
.
! She's got this, Emma - you're going to crush it in 2026 
. I mean, can you blame her? She's been putting in so much work and getting hurt as a result 
. It's about time she prioritizes her fitness over those exhibition matches 
. But seriously, this is gonna be interesting to watch... will she bounce back stronger than ever in 2026? 
only time'll tell! 
... but I get why she'd want to prioritize her fitness. Two years ago, she was struggling with injuries and ranking drops 
... now she's already back in the top 30! That's a huge comeback, and I'm rooting for her 
. He seems like he knows what he's doing, and their partnership could make all the difference in her game. And if she can stay fit and healthy, I really believe she's got a shot at making some noise in the tennis world 
. Still, her resilience is impressive 
. It's always the same old story - a bunch of fancy players showing up for a few hundred bucks and pretending like they care about each other's fitness. And poor Emma is just trying to deal with her own injuries, I get it 
. It's all so... unpredictable 
. Can we just have some stability for once? I mean, I love watching tennis, but it's like they're not even taking care of themselves, let alone their bodies 
.