Emma Raducanu opted against competing with her British colleagues.
The LTA have announced that Jodie Burrage will replace Emma Raduanu after the 2021 US Open winner pulled out of the Billie Jean King Cup. Raducanu was initially included as the British No. 2, but pulled out to focus on a training block instead.
The 22-year-old is fresh off an impressive run to the Miami Open quarter-finals, where she was beaten by eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula. Raducanu had been slated to compete for Great Britain against Germany and the Netherlands in their upcoming BJK Cup matches.
She was named in the squad last month alongside British No. 1 Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Harriet Dart and Olivia Nicholls. However, Raducanu pulled out in order to prioritise her training and fitness, with her team describing that the decision was “difficult” for her to make.
They added: “She needs a little space in the calendar to best look after her body.”
Team captain Anne Keothavong said: “I recognise this has been a difficult decision for Emma. Of course you always miss a player of her quality on the team.
“We’ve seen what she can do in the past representing her country, but I have the utmost belief in the players who are travelling next week and will confirm a fifth player in due course.”
Burrage, world No. 174, most recently competed at the Puerto Vallarta Open where she reached the second round, before being defeated by German player Tatjana Maria. She retired in her Miami Open all-British clash with Kartal the week prior, but proved her fitness in Mexico.
Reacting to her inclusion for the BJK Cup on Instagram, Burrage wrote: “Very excited to join these girls,” accompanied by heart and Union Jack emojis.
Raducanu did not compete at the French Open last year, to prepare for the grass-court season, and likely wants to take more time to compete on clay as she plans to return to Roland Garros.
Her replacement Burrage and the rest of the Great Britain team are competing in a new round-robin qualifying format, where top nations will head to the finals last year. The two remaining teams will have to compete in play-offs for the opportunity to return to qualifiers in 2026.
Raducanu was due to travel to Spain for the Madrid Open at La Caja Magica from April 22 to May 4, but it remains to be seen whether she will participate before the French Open, which begins on May 25.
She is not the only big-name absentee the BJK Cup will miss, with Iga Swiatek pulling out of Poland’s qualifying ties with Switzerland and Ukraine, also “focusing on myself and my training”.