British tennis star Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Madrid Open, marking her third consecutive tournament absence due to an illness she contracted back in February. Since her defeat to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells six weeks ago, Raducanu has been sidelined, missing out on the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz as she continues to battle post-viral symptoms.
Despite her recent setbacks, Raducanu is hopeful for her return to the court and aims to kick off her clay season at the Italian Open in early May. While reports suggest she has resumed training, she deems herself not ready 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 also pulled out of the Madrid Open due to injuries. Alcaraz sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open, while Djokovic is still managing an ongoing issue that hinders his readiness to compete.
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. Despite subsequent participation in WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai, she faced mid-match withdrawal and early exits in those events.
The young British player’s absence from Madrid this year means she will lose 35 ranking points, contrasting with her previous success at the 2025 Italian Open where she reached the fourth round before being bested by Coco Gauff.
Raducanu’s season has been marred by injuries and health issues, starting with a foot problem that disrupted her pre-season training. Following a second-round exit at the Australian Open and a coaching change, she has faced persistent challenges in maintaining her form due to illness and setbacks.
Despite these obstacles, Raducanu showed promise by reaching a final in Cluj earlier this year, but her ongoing health issues have continued to disrupt her progress.
