Just weeks ago, British tennis shook when Emma Raducanu , the nation’s No. 1, withdrew from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals team to focus on the WTA Tour. Rather than traveling to Shenzhen for the eight-team showdown, Raducanu seized a coveted wildcard for the Korea Open in Seoul, prioritizing her development and the early stages of her partnership with coach Francisco Roig. The 22-year-old insists this move is crucial for her long-term growth, even at the cost of national duty. And as she takes on Jaqueline Cristian in the R32 today, Raducanu now faces intense scrutiny from tennis insiders over her bold decision.

Television presenter Matt Roberts kicked things off by framing Raducanu’s decision alongside other notable withdrawals, including Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys. B

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