Emma Raducanu Pulls Out of Madrid Open Due to Ongoing Fitness Concerns

Emma Raducanu has announced her withdrawal from the upcoming Madrid Open, citing her ongoing recovery from post-viral symptoms as the primary reason. This decision comes after she also pulled out of the recent WTA Tour events in Miami and Linz, prioritizing her rehabilitation. Raducanu, who is currently the British No 1, has been dealing with the aftermath of an illness she contracted in Romania early in February. She has also opted not to participate in Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia. Despite this, Raducanu has resumed training and is hopeful of making a comeback at the Rome tournament in early May. Her last competitive match was at Indian Wells on March 8, where she suffered a defeat at the hands of Amanda Anisimova. Raducanu acknowledged that she lacked power during the match and recognized the need to adapt her strategy. Following her split from coach Francisco Roig in January, Raducanu has been working informally with Mark Petchey to regain her form. The Italian Open, scheduled to start 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. Raducanu joins a list of high-profile players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Barbora Krejcikova, who have also withdrawn from the Madrid Open.