Raducanu to skip Britain's Billie Jean King Cup Finals for Seoul Open

Emma Raducanu will skip Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen later this month to play the WTA 500 Korea Open in Seoul, the British number one confirmed, a move that leaves her country’s team weakened ahead of a quarterfinal tie with Japan on September 18. Raducanu accepted a wildcard for the Seoul tournament, which runs from September 15 to 21, and said she and her team are prioritising tour events and time on the road with new coach Francisco Roig as they look to build her form and ranking.

The decision ends weeks of speculation after Raducanu was included in captain Anne Keothavong’s initial four-player squad. The Lawn Tennis Association said it was disappointed but believes it still has a strong team. Keothavong has added Francesca Jones to the lineup alongside Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Jodie Burrage. If Britain beat Japan, they would face either the United States or Kazakhstan in the semifinals on September 20. Japan’s squad is set to include US Open semifinalist Naomi Osaka.

Raducanu’s choice follows a season of steady progress for the 22 year old, who has enjoyed what many observers have called her best year in the tour since her 2021 US Open...