Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from her third consecutive tournament, opting out of the upcoming Madrid Open as she focuses on recovering from an illness she contracted back in February. The British No. 1 has been absent from competition since her loss to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells six weeks ago, missing out on the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz due to lingering post-viral symptoms.
Despite these setbacks, Raducanu is hopeful about returning to action and beginning her clay court season at the Italian Open in early May. Although she has resumed training, she feels it is premature to compete in Madrid at this time.
Her withdrawal adds to the challenges faced by tournament organizers, as world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, a three-time former champion, also pulled out recently. Alcaraz sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open, while Djokovic is still managing an ongoing injury that has kept him from full fitness.
Raducanu’s health struggles began with a viral illness earlier this year, affecting her performance at the Transylvania Open where she was defeated by Sorana Cirstea. Following that, she participated in the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai but had to withdraw mid-match in Doha and exited in the first round in Dubai, admitting later that she should have withdrawn from those tournaments earlier.
After a brief appearance at Indian Wells, where she won one match but suffered a quick defeat to Anisimova, Raducanu has been off the court. Last year in Madrid, she reached the second round before being eliminated by Marta Kostyuk, and this year’s withdrawal will cost her 35 ranking points.
The 23-year-old faced a challenging season with injuries and illnesses impacting her form. An early foot problem disrupted her pre-season preparations and led to a delayed start to her competitive year at the United Cup. Despite some positive moments, including a runner-up finish in Cluj in February, her season has been marred by health setbacks.
Raducanu’s journey has been tumultuous, marked by highs and lows, but she remains determined to overcome these obstacles as she looks ahead to the upcoming tournaments on the horizon.