Emma Raducanu’s Asian Swing has not got off to the strong start she would have hoped for.
Following a third-round exit at the US Open, Raducanu withdrew from the Billie Jean King Cup to feature at the Korea Open.
There, the Briton won her opening match against Jaqueline Cristian, but suffered defeat to former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in round two.
Now, amid Raducanu’s injury concerns, the world number 32 is set to appear at the penultimate WTA 1000 event of the 2025 season, where she has been handed a nightmare draw.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesEmma Raducanu’s difficult draw at the China Open
At the upcoming China Open, she will be given a bye into the second round and will come up against either a qualifier or Donna Vekic.
After that, however, Raducanu finds herself on a collision course with several big stars, including WTA number seven Jessica Pegula, who she could meet in round three.
Her fourth round opponent could come in the form of US Open semifinalist Naomi Osaka, and should she make it to the quarterfinals, the 22-year-old will likely face six-time major champion Iga Swiatek.
Raducanu’s quarter of the draw also includes the likes of Emma Navarro and Anna Kalinskaya, both of whom would also prove difficult tests.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesThe top eight seeds at the 2025 China Open
The 2025 China Open will feature a star-studded lineup, with eight of the world’s top ten players competing at the event.
Seeded first is Swiatek, who kicked off her Asian swing by clinching the 25th title of her career at the Korea Open.
French Open champion Coco Gauff, US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova, and world number five Mirra Andreeva make up seeds two, three and four.
Last year’s China Open semifinalist Qinwen Zheng will make her return to the tournament as the seventh seed, as well as fifth seeded Pegula, who was knocked out in the fourth round in 2024.
Billie Jean King Cup winner Jasmine Paolini will enter Beijing as the sixth seed, while Elena Rybakina comes in as the eighth.