Emma Raducanu suffers latest injury blow as foot problem forces Korea Open retirement

Raducanu had previously beaten two top-50 players in Seoul en route to the last eight

Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from the Korea Open (PA)

Emma Raducanu’s injury problems struck again as she retired from her Korea Open quarter-final against top seed Daria Kasatkina.

The 21-year-old Briton had just lost the first set 6-1 when she withdrew having struggled with a foot issue.

Raducanu had previously beaten two top-50 players in Seoul en route to the last eight, in American Peyton Stearns and China’s Yue Yuan. She had taken a medical timeout in the clash with Yue, though overcame the issue to progress.

Looking to make just her second ever WTA Tour semi-final, having also reached the last four in Nottingham in June, the 2021 US Open champion initially saw her match against world number 13 Kasatkina rained off on Friday.

When the contest then did get under way on Saturday, Raducanu – who spoke earlier this week of wanting to play as manay matches as possible before the end of the season – was broken by her Russian opponent in the second game.

She immediately broke back, but was unable to build on that and, after Kasatkina had wrapped up the set, Raducanu went over and shook her hand having decided due to the foot problem that she would not continue.

“I feel sorry for Emma ... it’s easy to get injured, especially deep into these tournaments,” Kasatkina said. “I wish her a speedy recovery.”

PA