Raducanu Retires Again: British No. 1 Forfeits Qatar Open First-Round Match
Chest infection and blood pressure issues force early exit in Doha, just days after first final appearance since 2021
By Paul Battison
BBC Sport journalist
Published: 9 February 2026 | 2 min read
DOHA, Qatar — Emma Raducanu’s search for consistency suffered another setback Monday as the British No. 1 was forced to retire from her first-round match at the Qatar Open, just 48 hours after contesting her first final since the 2021 US Open.
The 23-year-old forfeited her match against Colombia’s Camila Osorio at 2-0 down in the deciding set after requiring medical attention for blood pressure issues.
Match Summary
| Set | Raducanu | Osorio |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | 2 |
| 2nd | 4 | 6 |
| 3rd | 0 | 2 (ret.) |
Raducanu started strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead before sealing the first set 6-2. But Osorio fought back in the second, breaking for 3-2 and forcing errors from the Briton to level the match.
At the start of the third set, Raducanu saved two break points but was immediately broken again. After gingerly failing to chase down a drop shot, she called the trainer to have her blood pressure taken—then retired moments later.
This marks the third time in four months Raducanu has required medical attention during a match:
| Date | Tournament | Issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Wuhan Open | Blood pressure, temperature | Retired first round |
| Feb 7, 2026 | Transylvania Open (Final) | Blood pressure, chest infection | Lost to Cirstea |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Qatar Open (First round) | Blood pressure | Retired vs Osorio |
After Saturday’s Transylvania Open final—her first final appearance in over four years—Raducanu revealed she had been “battling a bit of a chest infection” affecting her fitness.
Since her historic 2021 US Open triumph, Raducanu has struggled to build momentum amid a recurring cycle of injuries, illnesses, and coaching changes.
In January, she split with Francis Roig—her ninth coach since 2021—following a second-round exit at the Australian Open.
Monday’s retirement raises fresh questions about her physical readiness for the demands of the WTA Tour as she attempts to recapture the form that announced her arrival on tennis’s biggest stage.