Emma Raducanu’s struggles in China aren’t over yet. The former US Open champion required another health check at the Ningbo Open, only days after being forced to retire from her Wuhan opener amid sweltering conditions.
What Happened With Emma Raducanu During Her First-Round Match at the Ningbo Open?
Raducanu faced Ann Li at the WTA 500 event, but the sweltering heat took its toll, forcing her to undergo a medical check-up before retiring. She wasn’t the only one affected, as several other players were visibly affected by the scorching heat in Wuhan.
The former US Open champion had earlier insisted she was coping well despite her struggles in Wuhan. However, little did she know that the same ordeal would resurface during her first-round match against home favorite Zhu Lin at the Ningbo Open.
“Last day at the doctors in Wuhan. Feeling better now. Shame I couldn’t continue there, but thank you for the messages,” she had shared.
However, as the match progressed, the challenge intensified, not only because Zhu raised her level but also due to the demanding conditions with 89% humidity. At 3-4 in the second set, a doctor and physio rushed onto the court to check Raducanu’s pulse as she sat courtside, wrapping a towel around herself.
Medical time out for Emma Raducanu
Doctor and physio checking her vitals, just like her last match.
Raducanu to serve next at 3-4 vs Lin Zhu in set 2 pic.twitter.com/MToRDnhbnT
— edgeAI (@edgeAIapp) October 14, 2025
The warm temperatures and intense humidity in China have been a major concern for players this season, and they appeared to sap Raducanu’s momentum in Ningbo. The Brit’s movement grew visibly restricted, and she lost the second set 6-1.
The match reached the decider, but unlike in Wuhan, Raducanu fought on. However, three games into the deciding set, she was forced to take another medical timeout to receive extensive treatment on her lower back. Zhu, meanwhile, seized full control of the contest, allowing the Brit no chance to recover as she stormed through the decider 6-1 to seal victory in two hours and 27 minutes.
The defeat in Ningbo compounded Raducanu’s underwhelming Asian swing. The 22-year-old opened with a second-round finish in Seoul, followed by a third-round run in Beijing, a first-round retirement in Wuhan, and now an early exit in Ningbo. How the Brit responds to this string of setbacks remains to be seen.
