Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from her third consecutive tournament, opting out of the upcoming Madrid Open as she continues her recovery from an illness she contracted in February. The top-ranked British player has been absent from competitive matches since her loss to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells six weeks ago, missing out on the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz due to post-viral symptoms.
Despite these setbacks, Raducanu is hopeful to return to action and kick off her clay season at the Italian Open in early May. While reports suggest she has resumed training, she 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, a three-time former champion, also withdrawing from the event due to injury concerns.
Raducanu’s health issues began with a viral illness earlier in the year, affecting her performance at the Transylvania Open where she was defeated by Sorana Cirstea. Following that, she participated in the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai but had to withdraw during a match in Doha and exited in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Having made a brief appearance at Indian Wells, Raducanu’s last match ended in a quick defeat to Anisimova, and she has not competed since. Last year, she reached the second round in Madrid before losing to Marta Kostyuk, a performance that will cost her 35 ranking points this year.
Raducanu’s recent struggles with injuries and illness have hampered her quest for consistent form. Despite a promising start at the 2025 Italian Open, where she reached the fourth round before being eliminated by Coco Gauff, her season has been marked by setbacks.
The 23-year-old faced challenges early in the year, including a foot problem that disrupted her pre-season preparation. After 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.
While she showed promising signs by reaching a final in Cluj earlier this year, ongoing health issues have continued to disrupt her season, leading to her withdrawal from the Madrid Open.
