Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup finals after losing her race to recover from the wrist problem that curtailed her WTA season.
The former US Open champion, who pulled out of the Transylvania Open earlier this month after suffering the injury, had hoped to lead the British team at next month’s finals in Glasgow.
It marks the final twist in an injury-plagued season for Raducanu, who recently began working with Andy Murray’s former fitness coach Jez Green in an effort to improve her strength and conditioning.
“It’s disappointing to get the news from the doctors that I won’t be ready in time, particularly with it being on home soil,” said Raducanu, whose season ended with a straight-sets defeat to Daria Kasatkina in Ostrava.
“I tried to do everything possible to get it ready in time, since my last tournament I have been working every day on physical training and rehab.
“I’ve got confidence in my teammates and look forward to playing next year.”
Raducanu’s withdrawal comes just days after Dmitry Tursunov, the Russian coach who left the 19-year-old’s camp earlier this month, said “red flags that just couldn’t be ignored” were behind his decision to end their partnership.
The British BJK Cup side, captained by Anne Keothavong, has been drawn with Kazakhstan and Spain in Group C of the 12-team finale of a competition styled as the women’s World Cup of tennis.
In Raducanu’s absence, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Katie Boulter will shoulder British hopes, with Keothavong expected to add two more picks before the competition begins on 8 November.