Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Madrid Open, marking her third consecutive tournament withdrawal due to ongoing recovery from an illness she contracted back in February. The British tennis star, ranked No. 1 in her country, has been absent from competition since her defeat to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells six weeks ago. She also missed the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz tournaments while dealing with post-viral symptoms.
Raducanu remains hopeful about returning to action and targeting the start of her clay season at the Italian Open in early May. Reports suggest that she has resumed training but is not yet ready to compete in Madrid.
Her absence adds to the challenges faced by tournament organizers, with world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both withdrawing from the Madrid Open as well. Alcaraz sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open, while Djokovic continues to manage a lingering injury that has kept him from competitive play.
Earlier in the season, Raducanu struggled during the Transylvania Open final after contracting a viral illness, leading to her defeat by Sorana Cirstea. Subsequently, she participated in the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai, where she faced difficulties and acknowledged that she should have withdrawn from those tournaments.
Despite these setbacks, Raducanu showed promise at the 2025 Italian Open, reaching the fourth round before being eliminated by Coco Gauff. Her current season has been marred by injuries and illnesses, starting with a foot problem that disrupted her pre-season preparations.
Following a second-round exit at the Australian Open, Raducanu parted ways with her coach and has since been supported by her hitting partner and physiotherapist. Though she had a commendable performance as a runner-up in Cluj earlier this year, ongoing health issues have hampered her progress on the court.
The 23-year-old tennis player is now focused on recovering fully and regaining her form to make a successful return to competitive tennis.