Raducanu Pulls Out of Madrid Open to Focus on Recovery

Emma Raducanu has taken the decision to withdraw from the upcoming Madrid Open, citing her continued recovery from post-viral symptoms as the primary reason. This move follows her earlier withdrawals from WTA Tour events in Miami and Linz, underscoring her commitment to regaining full fitness. Raducanu, who also opted out of participating in Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia, is currently back in training. She is hopeful of making a comeback at the Rome tournament in early May. Her last competitive outing was at Indian Wells on March 8, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. Raducanu acknowledged feeling a lack of power during the match, highlighting the need for her to adopt a more aggressive playing style. Since parting ways with coach Francisco Roig in January, Raducanu has been informally working with Mark Petchey to regain her form. The Italian Open, starting on May 5 in Rome, will be her next opportunity to compete on clay, followed by tournaments in Strasbourg and Rabat leading up to the French Open. Raducanu joins a list of high-profile players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Sonay Kartal, and Barbora Krejcikova, who have also withdrawn from the Madrid Open.