Raducanu pulls out of Madrid Open

Emma Raducanu has taken a break from competitive play since March, and her absence from the WTA Tour will now stretch for at least two more weeks after she withdrew from the Madrid Open. The British number one has been battling a persistent viral infection, which initially surfaced during her time in the Middle East in February. She competed at Indian Wells in early March but skipped the Miami and Linz events, including her first clay court tournament of the year. Since then, Raducanu has focused on rebuilding her fitness, with a likely need for extended preparation before returning to clay surfaces.

Raducanu’s clay court journey has had its ups and downs. Her debut season on the surface in 2022 was promising, following her historic US Open win as a teenager. However, she suffered a back injury in Madrid and had to retire from her Rome match a week later. The 2023 season was further disrupted by surgeries on her hand and ankle, limiting her participation. In 2024, she performed well on indoor clay, securing victories for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup and reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart. Yet, a heavy defeat in Madrid marked the end of her clay court run that year.

Raducanu cited mental and emotional fatigue as the reason for her decision to skip the French Open. She believes prioritizing a focused training block will better prepare her for the grass court season ahead. Her next chance to compete on clay will be at the Italian Open in Rome, starting 5 May. Two additional tournaments in Strasbourg and Rabat, held the week before the French Open, could also offer opportunities. If she misses all these, her layoff will extend to three months, leaving her with fewer matches before the grass court swing begins.

In many ways, the second half of the year holds greater significance for Raducanu. It includes matches on home soil, where she can draw on familiar support, and return to the hard courts of the US, where she launched her career in 2021. The season also culminates in China, a country where she feels at ease due to her heritage. She has relied on Alexis Canter for consistent guidance since parting ways with coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open. In Indian Wells, she mentioned her mind was “open” to hiring a full-time coach but remained cautious about the attention her choices might attract.

“Mentally and emotionally exhausted,” Raducanu said, explaining her decision to avoid clay in 2024.

The Madrid Open kicks off on Tuesday, with Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic also absent. Live scores, results, and order of play details are available for updates. Tennis news updates can be delivered directly to your phone.