Emma Raducanu has decided to withdraw from the Madrid Open due to her ongoing recovery from an illness she contracted in February. This marks her third consecutive tournament withdrawal following her defeat at Indian Wells six weeks ago. The British No. 1 also missed out on participating in the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz due to post-viral symptoms.
Despite her recent setbacks, Raducanu remains hopeful for a comeback and aims to kick off her clay season at the Italian Open in early May. While she has resumed training, she feels it is premature to compete in Madrid at this time.
Raducanu’s absence adds to the challenges faced by tournament organizers, as world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both withdrew from the event on the same day. Alcaraz sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open, while Djokovic continues to manage an ongoing issue that has kept him from full fitness.
Following her illness in February, Raducanu faced difficulties during the Transylvania Open final, where she was defeated by Sorana Cirstea. Subsequently, she participated in the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai, where she withdrew mid-match in Doha and exited in the first round in Dubai.
Raducanu’s recent struggles trace back to the 2025 Italian Open, where she reached the fourth round before being defeated by Coco Gauff. Injuries and illnesses have plagued her campaign, with a foot problem disrupting her pre-season and ongoing challenges affecting her form throughout the season.
Despite these setbacks, there have been glimpses of success for Raducanu, such as advancing to her first final since the 2021 US Open in Cluj in February. However, her health issues have continued to impact her performance on the court, leading to her decision to withdraw from the Madrid Open and focus on her recovery.
