In an unexpected twist at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina withdrew mid-match from their doubles semifinal, sparking backlash from fans who felt the duo disrespected the event. The pair retired trailing 1-4 in the first set against Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai, just days after forming what many hoped would be a promising team.
Though both are primarily singles players, Raducanu and Rybakina had made a strong start to their doubles campaign. They fought back to defeat Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova in the first round and followed that up with a win over Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi to reach the semifinals.
Meanwhile, both were advancing deep into the singles draw. Raducanu had stunned Naomi Osaka and then battled past Maria Sakkari in hot, humid conditions.
After the match, she admitted the weather made her feel like she had “just opened an oven.” Rybakina also reached the semifinals in singles after comfortably dispatching Magdalena Frech.
Fan outrage over doubles withdrawal
The retirement from doubles was met with strong criticism online. Fans voiced disappointment over what they perceived as a lack of professionalism and respect for the doubles format.
One commenter called it a “disgrace,” accusing them of wasting a draw spot, while others argued they should never have entered if they weren’t committed to finishing the tournament.
The frustration was compounded by the timing, as Raducanu had played her singles match earlier in the day and was seen being treated by medical staff. Many believed her withdrawal was preemptive, not allowing Rybakina, who was yet to play, a chance to decide whether to compete.
Raducanu hinted at physical struggles in her post-match comments, saying, “I’m not feeling the best right now, so I just need to go and speak to the doctors.” She emphasized how draining the extreme conditions had been, especially in long rallies.
While some saw the decision as a pragmatic move to preserve their chances in singles, others felt it devalued the doubles competition-especially for dedicated doubles specialists who could have used that opportunity.
As the tournament moves forward, Raducanu is set to face Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals, while Rybakina will meet Leylah Fernandez, who recently survived a marathon three-set match to advance.
Though their doubles campaign ended abruptly, it served as a reminder of the balancing act top players must navigate between ambition, endurance, and expectations-both from the sport and its increasingly vocal fanbase.
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