Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Madrid Open as she continues her recovery from an illness she contracted back in February. This marks her third consecutive tournament absence, following her last match at Indian Wells where she was defeated by Amanda Anisimova. Raducanu also missed out on the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz due to post-viral symptoms.
Although Raducanu is optimistic about her return and aims to kick off her clay season at the Italian Open in early May, she is not yet ready to compete in Madrid. She has resumed training but is taking a cautious approach to ensure her full recovery before returning to the court.
The withdrawal of Raducanu adds to the challenges faced by tournament organizers, as world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic also pulled out of the competition due to injuries. Alcaraz suffered a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open, while Djokovic is managing a persistent issue that is keeping him from competing.
Raducanu’s recent struggles began with a viral illness in February, affecting her performance at the Transylvania Open where she was defeated by Sorana Cirstea. Despite participating in the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai, Raducanu faced setbacks, withdrawing mid-match in Doha and exiting in the first round in Dubai.
Although Raducanu showed promise at the Indian Wells tournament, winning a match before a tough loss to Anisimova, she has not played since then. Her absence from Madrid this year means she will lose 35 ranking points from her previous performance.
Looking back at her career, Raducanu had a notable run at the 2025 Italian Open, reaching the fourth round before being defeated by Coco Gauff. However, injuries and illnesses have been a recurring challenge for her, affecting her consistency and performance on the court.
Following a foot problem during the pre-season and a second-round exit at the Australian Open, Raducanu made changes in her coaching staff, parting ways with Francisco Roig. She is now accompanied by her hitting partner, Alexis Canter, and physiotherapist Emma Stewart.
Despite facing setbacks, Raducanu had a commendable performance as a runner-up in Cluj in February. However, her ongoing health issues have disrupted her season, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing her recovery and well-being.