For the next three weeks, tennis turns its gaze eastward as the much-anticipated “Asian swing” kicks off, a three-week gauntlet that can define seasons. Its timing is brutal yet golden, sitting right before the year-end finals and offering a last, desperate push for the few remaining spots. For some, it’s a lifeline; for others, a chance to bank precious points they missed earlier. But as the action is set to ignite at the Korea Open, sudden disruptions have delayed matches, leaving Emma Raducanu, Caty McNally, Barbora Krejčíková, and others waiting in the wings, their momentum paused just when every point matters most.

Rain ruled the day in Seoul, forcing fans and players alike into a frustrating wait as the WTA 500 schedule came to a grinding halt. The drama began early when edgeAI’s X handle broke the news: “No play before 3pm local time at the Seoul WTA 500. Currently raining and the forecast doesn’t look great. They will make a new announcement at 3 pm.”

But the skies refused to cooperate. The next update pushed play to 4pm, with hope still alive. “They will try to play today if weather allows it,” edgeAI reported. “They’re drying the courts so if rain holds up they should be able to at least start play in 30-40 minutes or so.” Just as the surface began to dry, the rain returned, extending the delay for yet another hour.

The matches still waiting to take the court are high-stakes clashes: Diana Shnaider vs Caty McNally, Barbora Krejcikova vs Tatiana Prozorova, Anastasia Zakharova vs Sorana Cirstea, Jaqueline Cristian vs Emma Raducanu, Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Dayeon Back, and Suzan Lamens vs Tatjana Maria. Doubles matches, however, won’t see action until tomorrow, leaving fans to pray for clear skies and a late-night showdown.

Play had finally begun an hour ago at the Seoul WTA 500 as players stepped onto Centre Court with hopes of salvaging the rain-soaked day. The long-awaited first matches featured Diana Shnaider facing Caty McNally, and Barbora Krejcikova taking on Tatiana Prozorova.

But just as momentum began to build, the skies opened again. The rain returned with cruel timing, forcing play to be suspended once more. The matches affected included Diana Shnaider vs Caty McNally, which was underway, and Jaqueline Cristian vs Emma Raducanu, which had not even started.

Players were ushered off the court as organizers announced yet another delay of 35-50 minutes. The frustration in the air was palpable, with fans left waiting in hope that play could still resume before nightfall.

This is far from an isolated incident. The Korea Open has been no stranger to rain disruptions, with last year’s edition also enduring multiple washouts. Beatriz Haddad Maia advanced to a rain-delayed semifinal after defeating Polina Kudermetova, with both quarterfinals and semifinals crammed into the following day.

Even Emma Raducanu’s quarterfinal against Daria Kasatkina last year was postponed due to rain, ending in her withdrawal after a foot issue. 

Now, with her match pushed back again, tennis insiders have begun scrutinizing her commitments, questioning her focus on national representation.

Emma Raducanu criticized for skipping Billie Jean King Cup

Just weeks ago, British tennis was sent into a swirl of debate when Emma Raducanu, the nation’s No. 1, made the bold choice to withdraw from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals team in order to focus on the WTA Tour. Instead of traveling to Shenzhen for the eight-team showdown, Raducanu grabbed a coveted wildcard for the Korea Open in Seoul. 

Today, she is set to face Jaqueline Cristian in the R32, though the match is likely to be postponed because of persistent weather delays. Her decision has sparked intense scrutiny, with tennis insiders questioning whether national duty should take a backseat to individual ambition.

In a recent episode of The Tennis Podcast, hosts Matt Roberts, Catherine Whitaker, and David Law dissected the controversy surrounding Raducanu’s withdrawal. Roberts framed her choice alongside other high-profile absences, including Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys, but singled out Raducanu as particularly impactful. “Raducanu’s was the one that was a real shame to me, I must say. I don’t want to be harsher on Raducanu than I am on other players. You know, I want to see all the players play Billie Jean King if possible,” he explained, highlighting the disappointment shared by fans and commentators alike.

Catherine Whitaker added a measured, yet pointed perspective, noting the financial and ranking considerations that influenced Raducanu’s decision. “Anne will be gutted probably I don’t know she’ll be a lot of things I think don’t want to put word in her mouth but she’ll definitely be gutted put it that way and I do yeah I just look all of those reasons are‌ totally valid aren’t they rankings you know appearance fee like would we you know like it’s a lot of money being dangled in front of, you know, we can all be very judgmental about. She has a lot of money,” Whitaker observed.

David Law weighed in on the personal and professional pressures that come with being Britain’s top player. The trio’s discussion underscored the fine line between prioritizing national representation and advancing one’s career on the global stage.

Now, Raducanu faces a defining week in Seoul. Her potential clash with Iga Swiatek looms as a true litmus test, offering a chance to justify her WTA Tour focus with high-stakes performance against one of the game’s elite.

For Raducanu, the Korea Open is more than a tournament; it is a proving ground. The tennis world watches, eager to see if she can transform scrutiny into statement-making triumph.