Emma Raducanu has announced that she will not be taking part in next week’s Madrid Open as she continues to focus on regaining full fitness after a recent bout of illness. The British world No.
1 has already withdrawn from several other WTA events, including the tournaments in Miami and Linz, choosing instead to give her body the time it needs to recover from lingering post‑viral symptoms that followed an infection she contracted while competing in Romania in early February. In addition to skipping the Madrid event, Raducanu also decided to sit out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia, a decision that underscores how seriously she is taking her rehabilitation.
Sources close to the player say she has returned to the training centre and is feeling optimistic about the possibility of competing again at the Italian Open in Rome, which is scheduled to begin in early May. The 23‑year‑old’s most recent match came at Indian Wells, where she reached the third round before being handed a decisive 6‑1, 6‑1 loss to Amanda Anisimova on March 8. After the match, Raducanu was candid about her performance, explaining that a noticeable drop in power had hampered her ability to compete at her usual level.
“I need to obviously be aggressive when playing those players, but I think there’s still a long way to go to be doing that and I need to use my strengths and probably mix it up a bit more,” she said in the post‑match interview. Since parting ways with her former coach Francisco Roig in January, the 2021 US Open champion has been working on an informal basis with former British player and coach Mark Petchey.
Their collaboration is intended to help Raducanu rebuild confidence, refine her tactical approach, and gradually restore the aggressive style of play that made her a Grand Slam winner. The decision to skip Madrid places Raducaru among a growing list of high‑profile players who have withdrawn from the Spanish clay event this year. Notable absentees include world No.
1 Carlos Alcaraz, multiple‑time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, American star Taylor Fritz, rising Turkish talent Sonay Kartal, and Czech player Barbora Krejčíková. Their collective absence has turned the tournament into an open field, offering lower‑ranked competitors a rare chance to make a deep run.
Looking ahead, Raducanu’s next scheduled appearance on clay will be at the Italian Open in Rome, which kicks off on May 5. The event serves as a key preparation tournament for the French Open, and participation will give her a valuable opportunity to test her fitness and form on the red surface. Following Rome, she is expected to compete in the WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat, both of which are positioned as warm‑up tournaments ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year. While Raducanu’s immediate focus remains on recovery, she has expressed a clear intention to return to the tour as soon as her health permits.
In a recent statement, she emphasized the importance of listening to her body and not rushing the process, noting that a measured approach will ultimately benefit her long‑term career. Fans can stay updated on Raducanu’s progress and future match schedule through the Sky Sports app, which provides live scores, video highlights, and in‑depth analysis. For those interested in streaming tennis without a traditional broadcast contract, the NOW platform offers a flexible viewing option, allowing audiences to watch ATP and WTA matches live or on demand.
In summary, Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal from the Madrid Open is a strategic move aimed at safeguarding her health after a challenging recovery period. With a tentative return slated for the Italian Open in early May, she hopes to regain her competitive edge and continue her pursuit of Grand Slam success. The upcoming weeks will be crucial as she balances training, rehabilitation, and the inevitable pressure of returning to the highest level of professional tennis.