The tennis world is reeling after former US Open champion Emma Raducanu’s mother, Renee Zhai, broke down in tears while describing her daughter’s ongoing injury as “slowly eating away at her career”. Zhai revealed that Raducanu’s back and foot problems, long dismissed as minor, have now become a persistent threat to her tour viability.
According to Zhai’s emotional disclosure, a “third-party” player allegedly orchestrated a covert campaign that almost forced Raducanu into early retirement. She claimed this rival exploited Emma’s vulnerability during a medical break, pressuring sponsors and agents behind the scenes. The mother’s shocking accusation adds a new layer of drama to an already troubled campaign.
Raducanu, fresh from a crushing defeat at the Ningbo Open, confessed she is “not 100 % healthy” and holds “great doubts” about her future. Sources close to her team say the Brit was battling a recurring back spasm and foot ligament strain, issues documented in recent press.
Inside the team there is fear her service motion and lateral movement have been compromised. Insiders say the plan to rest her for the remainder of the season is being accelerated. Recent reports confirmed Raducanu has ended her 2025 campaign early to focus on rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the alleged conspiracy has sparked speculation in tennis circles. Zhai hinted that the rival went so far as to undermine Raducanu’s training access and equipment sponsors, though no names have yet been made public. Investigations by tour officials are rumored to be underway.
For fans and sponsors alike, the spectre of a premature exit from the sport looms large. Raducanu’s insistence that her body is “just not cooperating” has sent social-media reaction into overdrive. Tennis analysts now question whether the former breakout star can ever reclaim her trajectory.
Looking ahead, Raducanu’s next moves will be closely watched. Will she opt for surgery, long-term rest or risk a rushed comeback? Her camp is reportedly finalizing options with physiotherapists and strength coaches ahead of a possible 2026 return — but nothing is certain.
In the harsh spotlight of professional tennis, Raducanu’s saga is a reminder of how fragile success can be. An injury may begin quietly, but as Zhai said, it can quietly erode momentum, confidence and the very will to fight on at the highest level.
