Emma Raducanu Pulls Out of Madrid Open Due to Ongoing Recovery

Emma Raducanu will not be competing in the upcoming Madrid Open, as she prioritizes regaining full fitness after a recent illness. The British No 1 has also withdrawn from the WTA Tour events in Miami and Linz, opting to focus on her recovery from post-viral symptoms that she contracted in Romania in early February. Having also skipped Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia, Raducanu is now back in training and is hopeful of participating in the Rome tournament, which begins in May. Her last match was on March 8 at Indian Wells, where she lost 6-1 6-1 to Amanda Anisimova, citing a lack of power as a contributing factor to her defeat. Raducanu has been working with Mark Petchey on an informal basis since parting ways with her coach Francisco Roig in January, as she strives to regain her form. The Italian Open, starting on May 5 in Rome, will be Raducanu's next opportunity to compete on clay, followed by tournaments in Strasbourg and Rabat leading up to the French Open. Her withdrawal from the Madrid Open follows those of other high-profile players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Barbora Krejcikova.