Emma Raducanu receives 12th wildcard out of 16 tournaments since return as Qatar Open lifeline given
WTA
Emma Raducanu will play at the Qatar Open in Doha next week which is a WTA 1000 tournament which begins on Sunday 9 February. But she won't go through qualifying with Raducanu benefiting instead from a wildcard.
As was confirmed when she was added to the tournament, this is her 12th wildcard in 16 tournaments since her return with those on social media reacting to the post raising the question why she doesn't play lower level tournaments.
Especially given that the opposition in these big tournaments is so high. She has recently lost early to Cristina Bucsa in Singapore and then Marketa Vondrousova was an easy win for the former Wimbledon champion this past Tuesday.
Raducanu was not in the position to qualify for either Doha or Dubai coming up due to her ranking which sits just on the cusp. She is already in seemingly to Indian Wells, Miami she is with IMG anyway so likely will get a wildcard come what may. As is the case usually with Madrid for instance too in the clay court season.
Both companies own the tournaments so prefer their own talents but it does raise questions in Raducanu's case. She has yet to live up to the billing that this wildcard presents and she is very much seemingly in last chance saloon.
Whether there is a lack of options in Doha is a question but not going through qualifying also raises the questions whether she will get that match practice with defeats to big names consistently.
She lost last year in the opening round in Qatar being defeated by Anhelina Kalinina in this case. The draw is conducted on Friday with play starting on Sunday.
It is a tournament that takes place in both men's and women's. Novak Djokovic is currently signed up but due to his injury is very unlikely to play.
Emma to play Doha
— Emma Raducanu Fans (@RaducanuNews) February 6, 2025
Emma has a main draw wild card for the @QatarTennis 🇶🇦🐪 which begins on Sunday pic.twitter.com/K6DJPCpsUW
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