Emma Raducanu’s 2026 campaign has not unfolded the way she would have wanted when the year began. There have been notable bright spots, including runs to two WTA finals in Transylvania and Queen’s, but injuries have also kept her sidelined for large parts of the season.

The British player has now missed Wimbledon and the US Open in succession, and her ranking position has become increasingly vulnerable. She is currently world No 98, leaving her at risk of slipping out of the top 100 on the WTA Tour.

In a new interview with Uniqlo, Raducanu said Andre Agassi’s autobiography has helped her navigate a difficult stretch in form. Agassi’s Open is known for its candid account of the American’s career and the struggles he faced away from the court.

“[The book] describes what Agassi was up to and how he built his career in startling detail. I was especially intrigued by the passage where he got out of his slump in the late 1990s by creating his own training regimen and finding his way back to the top,” said Raducanu.

“It speaks in depth about his early successes and the lows he reached perhaps as a result of them. A lot of it was so relatable,” admitted the British star.

She also made clear that her current focus is not tied purely to results.

She added: “Of course I have concrete goals, but what matters most is focusing on each day at a time. If you obsess over results and put too much pressure on yourself, things tend not to go so well.”

Raducanu has withdrawn from the China Open, scheduled for September 28 to October 5, so her time away from competition will continue. Her return date remains uncertain, though there is still a possibility she could appear at the Wuhan Open, the final Masters event on the WTA Tour calendar.

She is often a popular figure on the WTA Tour’s Asian swing because of her Chinese heritage, and her sponsorship partner Uniqlo will also hope to see her at upcoming Japanese events such as the Japan Open in Osaka or the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in October. That schedule could give her time to rebuild match fitness.

Raducanu has played 21 matches in 2026, winning 11 and earning more than $600,000 in prize money.

Aryna Sabalenka has faced criticism this season for not always controlling her emotions, a storyline that has followed her through a year without a Grand Slam title after losing the world No 1 spot.

Yet Jessica Pegula, who fell to the 28-year-old in straight sets in the US Open semi-finals, offered a different reading of Sabalenka’s temperament. Speaking on The Player’s Box Podcast, Pegula said Sabalenka is at her best when she is “angry”.

“ She [Sabalenka] plays so well when she’s angry. I can’t do that. When I get angry I start overhitting and I get mad. It does not work for me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone play so well when she is visibly pissed off.

“Someone might hit a couple of good winners but then it doesn’t hold up. Not a lot of people can do that, but she does that. It is hard to do that and sustain it through a match. She is more of an emotional player but that is how she plays well.

“She’s good at playing with emotion. Everyone’s so different and you have to find out what works for you. She definitely can’t hold things in but it works for her.”

Former Australian Open Madison Keys, who beat Sabalenka Down Under in 2025, echoed that view. She said, “You want to actually keep her [Sabalenka] not angry. I can’t really imagine her playing tennis normal, she wouldn’t do well.”

Sabalenka’s emotions have not always stayed in check this year. At the French Open, she led Diana Shnaider by a set and two breaks before losing 10 games in a row in a quarter-final defeat. Even so, her record remains formidable, with four majors and 106 weeks as world No 1.

Last week, Sabalenka lost the No 1 ranking to US Open champion Elena Rybakina, who beat her in three sets in the final. How she responds over the rest of the 2026 season will be one of the key questions after a difficult year at the top.

Rising WTA player Sara Bejlek has become the latest withdrawal from the Singapore Open as the Asian Swing draws closer.

The WTA 500 event begins on 21 September and is headed by French Open champion Mirra Andreeva. The field also features former Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova, while Alex Eala is the third seed. Maja Chwalinska, who reached the French Open final, is among the top eight seeds, and Leylah Fernandez enters as the sixth seed with a wildcard. Defending champion Elise Mertens will also return to the event, which has now been upgraded from WTA 250 status.

The tournament has shifted from its previous slot in late January and early February to an indoor hard court setting in late September.

Bejlek’s absence is a notable one. The 20-year-old has produced a strong 2026 season, winning her first WTA Tour title in Abu Dhabi in February and reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati last month. That run included victories over world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, two-time major champion Barbara Krejcikova, and former Australian Open winner Madison Keys. She began the year ranked 76th and has since climbed to a career-high of 28. Among players under 21, only Andreeva, Iva Jovic, and Victoria Mboko are ranked higher.

Bejlek now appears set to miss Singapore after her quarter-final run in Guadalajara. There is no indication of injury, and on Friday she posted several Instagram photos from her time at the Mexican event. Tatiana Prozorova has replaced her in the draw.

Jessica Pegula is another major absentee after saying she withdrew because of a “ long and physically demanding few weeks “. Other withdrawals include Diana Shnaider, Sorana Cîrstea, Anastasia Potapova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Ann Li, and Clara Tauson.