Emma Raducanu agonises over feeling "redundant" at Billie Jean King Cup

Emma Raducanu has revealed she felt “redundant” after struggling with blisters during Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Final qualifier against the Czech Republic.

The 19-year-old overcame Tereza Martincová during her clay court debut yesterday, but struggled to secure another victory against Markéta Vondroušová today.

She lost 6-1, 6-1 to the 2019 French Open runner-up after struggling with a blister on her right foot.

“It kind of showed up after yesterday’s match,” Raducanu explained. “We’ve been managing it but as you saw I couldn’t really move or load either way and now it’s just about trying to get it better as soon as possible.

“It was compromising every shot I had to play. It’s very disappointing when you’re out there playing a rubber for your country and you feel completely redundant.”

Raducanu has indeed been blighted by fitness issues since her improbable victory at the US Open in September.

Severe blistering on her right hand led to defeat in the second round of the Australian Open. She then retired from her first-round match at the Guadalajara Open with a hip injury, and blamed a loss at the Miami Open on a stiff back.

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