British tennis star Emma Raducanu suffered another worrying health scare after she was forced to withdraw from her Qatar Open match in Doha on Monday, following an on-court medical check that included her blood pressure being monitored.
The 23-year-old retired during the deciding set after struggling physically and appearing unable to move freely.
The incident has raised fresh concern about Raducanu’s fitness, especially as it comes just days after she needed medical attention during her match in Romania.
What happened to Emma Raducanu at the Qatar Open?
Emma Raducanu started her opening match strongly, finally winning her first set of the Qatar Open at the third attempt. She took the opening set convincingly and looked in control early on.
However, her level dropped sharply in the second set after she lost her serve midway through.
Her opponent, Camila Osorio, grew in confidence and took the second set as Raducanu began to show clear signs of fatigue.
In the third set, Raducanu was broken again and soon required medical assistance. A doctor came onto the court, checked her condition, and monitored her blood pressure.
Emma Raducanu retires from her match against Camila Osorio in Doha.
She had her blood pressure checked at the start of the 3rd set.
A few days ago, she reached her first final since the 2021 US Open.
She’s played a lot of tennis.
Hopefully she’s healthy for Dubai. 🇬🇧❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/OnCjQLtinI
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 9, 2026
Although she attempted to continue, she looked visibly uncomfortable and struggled to move.
Raducanu eventually retired from the match while trailing 2-6, 6-4, 0-2, handing Osorio a place in the next round.
Why is Emma Raducanu’s health causing concern again?
This latest withdrawal has caused concern because it comes just 48 hours after another health issue during her appearance in the Transylvania Open final in Romania.
Raducanu had reached the final after an encouraging run, but she struggled badly in the title match and required a medical timeout during the contest. She later admitted she had been feeling unwell in the days leading up to the final.
Back-to-back health scares in two different countries, within such a short time, have led to growing questions about whether Raducanu is dealing with something more serious than simple fatigue.
What did Raducanu say about feeling unwell before Doha?
After her defeat in Romania, Raducanu hinted that she was not fully fit.
She explained that she had been feeling ill during the week and that her energy levels were low. She also pointed to the physical strain of playing long matches, suggesting her body had not recovered in time for the final.
Those comments now appear more significant, given what happened at the Qatar Open shortly after.
Did Raducanu play too soon after the Transylvania Open final?
Raducanu chose to compete in Doha just two days after playing the Transylvania Open final, which raised eyebrows among tennis observers.
While elite players often compete weekly, Raducanu has a history of physical setbacks, and many fans have questioned whether such a quick turnaround was the right decision.
The WTA tour schedule can be punishing, particularly when players travel long distances across time zones.
Romania to Qatar offers little recovery time, and even minor illness can worsen quickly when paired with stress, heat, and high-intensity sport.
How serious could the blood pressure check be in tennis?
A blood pressure check on court does not automatically mean a major medical emergency, but it usually signals that a player has shown symptoms such as:
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- weakness
- dehydration
- unusual fatigue
In tennis, extreme heat and long rallies can cause a player’s body to crash suddenly, especially if they have recently been ill.
Raducanu’s visible difficulty moving suggests she may have been suffering from more than standard tiredness, though no official medical diagnosis has been confirmed.
What happens next for Emma Raducanu?
As of now, Raducanu has not issued a full public statement explaining what caused her to retire. It remains unclear whether she will continue her Middle East swing or return home for further checks.
Her next steps will likely depend on:
- medical advice
- her recovery over the next few days
- whether her team believes she is fit to compete again
The priority will be preventing a longer-term problem, especially with major tournaments later in the season.
Has Raducanu shown progress in 2026 despite setbacks?
Despite another worrying moment, Raducanu has shown signs of improvement in 2026 compared to earlier struggles.
Her run to the Transylvania Open final was one of her strongest tournament performances in recent years, and she has looked more aggressive and confident on court.
Raducanu has also spoken openly in recent months about wanting to return to a more attacking style, the same big-hitting approach that helped her win the US Open in 2021.
But fitness remains the biggest obstacle between Raducanu and sustained success at the top level.
