Emma Raducanu retired from her debut match at the Wuhan Open on Tuesday in Wuhan, China, while battling dizziness caused by high heat and humidity conditions. The British tennis player, ranked 30th in the world, was losing 6-1 and 4-1 to American Ann Li when she called for medical attention and decided to withdraw. The incident occurred during the second set, after Raducanu showed signs of fatigue and low energy from the start of the match.
Ann Li advanced to the second round, where she will face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova. The American maintained control of the match and avoided unnecessary errors, securing her victory in less than an hour of play. Raducanu, who had broken Li’s serve in the first game, lost the next six in just 28 minutes.
The WTA 1000 tournament recorded temperatures above 31 degrees Celsius with 67% humidity, conditions that had already led to suspensions of matches on outer courts the previous week. Raducanu joins a list of players affected by the weather, including similar cases in recent Asian events.
- Raducanu committed four double faults at the start of the second set.
- She held serve despite the issues but conceded four straight games.
- The roof of the center court was partially closed to mitigate the heat.
Weather conditions challenge players in the tournament
The intense heat in Wuhan impacted the performance of several athletes throughout the day. Temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius in earlier sessions, forcing breaks and adjustments to the rules. The organization implemented the extreme heat protocol, which allows 10-minute breaks between the second and third sets.
Players reported difficulties maintaining pace, with unforced errors increasing across all matches. Ann Li, after the win, highlighted the need for constant hydration during the match. The British player Raducanu, visibly affected, had her blood pressure and body temperature checked by the medical team before the withdrawal decision.
Zhang secures surprising victory over Navarro
Chinese wildcard Shuai Zhang defeated 14th seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the first round. The match, played earlier in the day, lasted two hours and saw Zhang react after losing the second set. Navarro opened 3-0 in the decider, but Zhang won six consecutive games to advance.
The victory marks Zhang’s 48th in WTA 1000 events, bringing her closer to national records. She overcame serving difficulties and used pace variations to unsettle the American. Navarro, who had reached the quarterfinals in Beijing the previous week, made errors at key moments in the third set.
Zhang will face Naomi Osaka in the next round, in a matchup promising intensity. The 36-year-old Chinese player, ranked 142nd in the world, celebrated the local crowd’s support as a deciding factor. Her home campaign reinforces her strong form in Asian tournaments.
The 36-year-old player has 25 wins in 2025, with 17 on hard courts. She won titles in Gifu and Nottingham this year, showing consistency at lower levels. Against Navarro, Zhang exploited weaknesses in the opponent’s backhand, forcing defensive responses.
Osaka’s return with comeback against Fernandez
Naomi Osaka came back to defeat Leylah Fernandez 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, securing her first win at the Wuhan Open since 2017. The Japanese player, former world No. 1, leveled the head-to-head at 1-1 after losing the first set. Fernandez broke serve early, but Osaka raised her level in subsequent returns.
This was Osaka’s seventh comeback after losing the opening set in 2025, matching her personal record from 2019. She became the first Japanese player to win at all current WTA 1000 events. The second set featured five service breaks, with Osaka saving crucial points in the tiebreak.
Fernandez, ranked 27th, served consistently at the start but yielded under pressure in the final games. Osaka, with 32 wins in the season, showed determination in long rallies. Her performance included 13 winners in the third set, consolidating the recovery.
Osaka returned to the tournament after eight years, overcoming a first-round loss in 2017. She won the title in Saint-Malo in May, her first in four years. The Japanese player has 21 triumphs on hard courts in 2025, focusing on consistency.
Zhang’s history in WTA 1000 events
Shuai Zhang records 363 wins on hard courts throughout her career, with highlights in elite tournaments. Since 1990, only Li Na and Shuai Peng surpass her 48 conquests in WTA 1000. She reached the round of 16 in Wuhan in 2018, leveraging local support.
This year, Zhang prioritized Asian events, with solid qualifications in Beijing. Her win over Navarro reinforces her ability to compete against seeds. The Chinese player varied slices and drops to disrupt the American’s rhythm.
Zhang trains with a focus on endurance, essential for turnarounds like the third set. She avoided unforced errors in 70% of decisive points. Her progression depends on adaptation to the dense end-of-season calendar.
Li’s advancement after interrupted match
Ann Li progressed solidly, holding 80% of first-serve points against Raducanu. The American, who faced the British player in 2023, used deep forehands to pressure. Li recorded 13 winners in the first set, against three from her opponent.
She praised her own performance in a post-match interview, highlighting mental focus. Li has 15 hard-court wins in 2025, with quarterfinals in smaller tournaments. Against Alexandrova, she plans to exploit serve variations.
The match highlighted the importance of medical timeouts in adverse conditions. Li suggested Raducanu could have called for help earlier. Her Wuhan campaign seeks quarterfinals for the first time.