Emma Raducanu has announced that she will not be taking part in the upcoming Madrid Open, a decision that reflects her ongoing commitment to restoring her full physical condition. The British No. 1 has also elected to skip the WTA Tour stops in Miami and Linz, choosing instead to concentrate on a comprehensive rehabilitation program aimed at overcoming lingering post‑viral symptoms that emerged after she contracted an illness while competing in Romania in early February.
In addition to missing the Madrid event, Raducanu decided not to represent Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia, further underscoring her focus on health and recovery. Sources close to the player say she has already returned to the training courts and is optimistic about the prospect of competing in Rome when the Italian Open kicks off 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 American rising star Amanda Anisimova on March 8. After the match, Raducanu was candid about her performance, attributing the one‑sided scoreline to a noticeable drop in power and aggression.
"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 explained, highlighting the technical adjustments she hopes to make once she is fully fit. Since parting ways with her most recent coach, Francisco Roig, in January, the 2021 US Open champion has been working informally with former British professional Mark Petchey. Their collaboration has been less structured than a traditional coach‑player relationship, allowing Raducanu to experiment with training methods and match strategies while she regains confidence on court.
Looking ahead, the Italian Open in Rome will represent Raducanu’s first major clay‑court opportunity of the season. The tournament begins on May 5 and will serve as a crucial stepping stone toward the French Open, where she hopes to demonstrate that she can once again compete at the highest level. Following Rome, she has a busy schedule that includes events in Strasbourg and Rabat, both of which are key warm‑up tournaments for the Grand Slam on the red clay. Raducanu’s withdrawal adds her name to a growing list of high‑profile players who have pulled out of the Madrid Open this year.
Among those also absent are world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, multiple Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, American Taylor Fritz, rising Turkish talent Sonay Kartal, and Czech star Barbora Krejčíková. Their collective absence has reshaped the tournament’s field, creating unexpected opportunities for lower‑ranked competitors to make deeper runs.
While Raducanu focuses on her rehabilitation, tennis fans can still stay connected to the sport through various streaming and broadcast options. Sky Sports continues to provide live coverage of ATP and WTA events, and viewers can also stream matches via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app, which offers a blend of live action, highlights, and exclusive video content.
For those who want up‑to‑date scores, match results, and upcoming fixtures, the Sky Sports website and mobile app remain reliable sources. In summary, Emma Raducanu’s decision to sit out the Madrid Open is a strategic move aimed at ensuring she returns to competition at full strength. By prioritising her health, she hopes to rebuild the power and aggression that have defined her game since her breakthrough US Open triumph. The upcoming weeks on the training court, combined with a gradual re‑introduction to tournament play in Rome, should provide a solid platform for her to regain form and confidence as the clay‑court season progresses toward the French Open.