Great Britain's United Cup campaign has been rocked by a significant late change, with former US Open champion Emma Raducanu withdrawing from her highly anticipated match against Naomi Osaka. The sudden move forced a reshuffle of the British team's plans in Perth.
Captain's Insight on the Last-Minute Change
Team captain and former British number one, Tim Henman, addressed the media regarding Raducanu's unexpected withdrawal. Henman confirmed that the decision was made due to soreness in Raducanu's left side, which emerged following her practice session. The concern was significant enough for the medical team to advise against competition.
"She felt some soreness in her left side after practice yesterday," Henman explained. "When she woke up this morning, it was still sore, so she went to hit and it was still sore. So, from a medical perspective, it was a very easy decision. You don't want to risk a longer-term injury."
Team Reshuffle and Match Consequences
With Raducanu unable to face the returning Osaka, British number one Katie Boulter was called up to step into the singles rubber. This last-minute substitution meant Boulter had to prepare rapidly for a high-profile match against a four-time major champion, a tough ask for any player.
The scheduling impact was immediate. The women's singles match, originally slated as the second rubber of the tie, was moved to become the third and final match. This placed additional pressure on the British team's overall strategy for the crucial Group B encounter.
Looking Ahead for Raducanu and Team GB
Henman emphasised that the withdrawal was a precautionary measure with Raducanu's long-term season in mind. The focus is now on managing the minor issue to ensure she is ready for the upcoming Australian Open. Her participation in the remainder of the United Cup team event is now under a cloud.
This development is a blow for fans who were eager to see the match-up between Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner, and Osaka, who is making her much-publicised return to tennis after becoming a mother. For Team GB, the challenge in Perth has just become considerably tougher without one of their star players fit for duty.
