Emma Raducanu is set to make her tournament debut at next week’s Ningbo Open. The British No. 1 has often shared her love for competing in China, where her mum hails from, but she has never played a full Asian swing until now, with injuries and other setbacks getting in the way.
But she’s loving her time in Asia this year, especially because she’s been joined by her mum, Renee, who is rarely seen in her box. And it’s been a family affair for Raducanu, who is also getting to spend time with her aunt and cousins this month.
Raducanu’s results may not have gone to plan during this Asian swing. She blew three match points just days apart, losing to Barbora Krejcikova in Seoul and to Jessica Pegula in Beijing.
In Wuhan, Raducanu was forced to retire from her first-round match with Ann Li while trailing 6-1 4-1. The world No. 30 was clearly struggling in the brutally hot conditions and called the doctor to the court before retiring, citing dizziness.
There were fears that the Brit might not be ready to make her debut in Ningbo, as she revealed she continued to be treated by doctors in Wuhan. But she’s feeling better and has already made the trip over to compete in the WTA 500 event.
Ahead of the tournament, Raducanu explained what it meant to have her mother on tour with her. “It was great to have her by my side. I really enjoyed travelling around Asia with her,” the 2021 US Open champion said.
“We both felt very comfortable and at ease. She was able to organise everything so well and solve many small problems. It was great to have family around during such a long year-end journey.”
Raducanu’s mum isn’t the only one joining her at tournaments, as the 22-year-old has reunited with some extended family members she rarely gets time to see.
She added: “My aunt and cousins travel with me almost every week. It’s great to have them around, even if we don’t see each other often.
“It’s also very exciting for them to take this opportunity to travel and do things they might not normally do. They explored every city I visited, and after seeing all the sights, they showed me photos, making me feel like I had been to those places too.”
Raducanu enjoys plenty of support in China, but the fans in Ningbo will likely be pulling for her opponent, Chinese wildcard Zhu Lin, when they meet on Tuesday. Regardless, the Brit is still feeling the love, and she’s ready to push through the end-of-season physical struggles.
“I think it’s a very special feeling. I feel very comfortable here and have received amazing support, which is fantastic. I love the dedication of the Chinese fans and their endless support,” she explained.
“I think the only difference is that it’s the end of the season, so physically you need to push harder, feel things more deeply, and need to be more aware of your body and focus on the game.”
Things will only get harder for Raducanu if she can beat Lin, as No. 1 seed and last year’s runner-up, Mirra Andreeva, awaits in the second round. Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and No. 7 seed Diana Shnaider are also in her section of the draw.
