Emma Raducanu talks foot injury after 2026 debut at United Cup

Emma Raducanu was cautiously optimistic after her 2026 season debut at United Cup, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 defeat to Maria Sakkari that knocked Great Britain out of knockout stage contention.

The 2021 US Open finalist has been dealing with a foot injury since the end of last year and withdrew from her first match against Naomi Osaka before taking the court against Sakkari.

“Considering I played five, six games in practice, it is a big effort for me,” Raducanu said in the team’s post-match press conference.

“Really proud of how I kind of put myself out there, despite the scenario and situation. Also playing against Maria, who was playing really, really well. She also has a match under her belt, big win against Naomi.

“Yeah, to produce that level just by the circumstances, I have to be proud of even if it's very difficult right now.”

After years of injury struggles, Raducanu enjoyed a remarkable return to form in 2025. The 23-year-old cut her ranking in half over 12 months to finish inside the Top 30 after a quarterfinal finish at the Miami Open and three third-round appearances at Grand Slam tournaments. She hired Francisco Roig, who was a longtime member of Rafael Nadal's coaching team and at the Cincinnati Open last summer, she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to a final-set tiebreaker.

But the Brit admitted her preparation for 2026 was limited due to the foot injury that forced her out of exhibition events in December.

“I started hitting two weeks ago,” revealed Raducanu, who intends to compete at the Hobart International next week, “so it's been a good two and a bit months where I didn't play. I did fitness. When I spoke to you I was doing fitness, started that.

“Yeah, it's been difficult to kind of increase the load and add the unpredictability of the tennis. I think today, being able to produce that, having not played, is just giving me confidence to what I can do when I do practice more. I know now I just need to get my head down, keep working.”

I kind of played my first points two days ago in practice. It's been a very fast run path. Today was good exposure. Happy I spent two and a half hours out there and I'm okay right now. Emma Raducanu

Despite the struggles, she acquitted herself well against a resurgent Sakkari, who led Greece into the knockout stage of the team competition and booked a meeting with defending champs Team USA.

“I think after my last match in Ningbo, it's been a good three months. Initially you feel a little bit alien on the court, in the first set, just playing points again,” said Raducanu.

“I kind of played my first points two days ago in practice. It's been a very fast run path. Today was good exposure. Happy I spent two and a half hours out there and I'm okay right now.”

Raducanu also confirmed an attempt to switch racquets over the off-season, though she used her usual equipment against Sakkari.

“In a racquet, I probably was looking for a bit more power, a bit more help and miles per hour on the ball, especially when it gets so heavy like it can in the evenings and with the balls,” said Raducanu, who was seen experimenting with a Yonex racquet.

“I was just trying that out. This one didn't work. Yeah, probably now I'll just stick to this until I have another gap in the season.”

Raducanu enjoyed a strong showing at last year’s Australian Open, defeating then-No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova en route to the third round, where she fell to eventual semifinalist Iga Swiatek.