Raducanu withdraws from GB squad to 'look after body'

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Great Britain squad for next week's Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in the Netherlands to "look after her body".

The British number two reached the Miami Open quarter-finals last week.

Raducanu has competed in seven tournaments so far this year - the most she has played in the first three months of a season.

The 22-year-old, who climbed back into the world's top 50 this week, needed medical attention before losing to fourth seed Jessica Pegula in Miami.

Raducanu's representatives said pulling out of the British squad was a "difficult decision".

They added: "She needs a little space in the calendar to best look after her body."

Raducanu has been hampered by a series of fitness issues over recent seasons, while she recently took time off after being targeted by a stalker at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.

The 2021 US Open champion plans to do a training block over the next two to three weeks and will not play any WTA tournaments.

It is unclear when she plans to return to match action.

Raducanu was part of the British squad that reached the semi-finals of last year's BJK Cup.

Her withdrawal means British captain Anne Keothavong is assessing her options, but is likely to call another player into a five-woman squad next week.

Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Harriet Dart and Olivia Nicholls were initially named alongside Raducanu for the new round-robin format at Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague between 10-12 April.

"Of course you always miss a player of her quality on the team. But I have the utmost belief in the players who are travelling," said Keothavong.

Great Britain face the Netherlands and Germany, with the top nation from the week sealing a place in the Finals later this year.

The other two teams will meet in the play-offs for the chance to return to the qualifiers in 2026.