Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Madrid Open, as she continues her journey to full recovery from post-viral symptoms stemming from an illness contracted in Romania earlier this year. This decision follows her withdrawals from the WTA Tour events in Miami and Linz, underscoring her commitment to prioritizing her rehabilitation.
Raducanu, who also opted out of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia, has resumed training and is hopeful to participate in the Rome tournament in early May. Her last competitive match was at Indian Wells on March 8, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. Raducanu acknowledged that she lacked power during the match and recognized the need 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, scheduled to start 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joins a list of notable players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Barbora Krejcikova, who have also withdrawn from the Madrid Open.