Emma Raducanu Extends Illness Absence, Withdraws from Madrid Open
Emma Raducanu will not compete in the upcoming Madrid Open, as her absence from the WTA Tour due to a viral illness approaches two months. The British tennis star has been out of action since early March, raising concerns about her fitness and form ahead of the clay-court season.
Raducanu's Recent Struggles and Health Issues
Raducanu last played on March 8, suffering a decisive 6-1, 6-1 loss to Amanda Anisimova in the second round of the Indian Wells Open. Shortly after, she briefly trained at the Miami Open but withdrew, citing lingering symptoms from a viral illness that had affected her during the Middle East swing in February. This illness contributed to her poor on-court performances earlier in the year.
Following her withdrawal from Miami, Raducanu took a significant break from training. She has only recently resumed practice and now faces the challenge of rebuilding her match fitness. According to her representatives, Raducanu is hopeful of returning to competition at the Italian Open in Rome, which begins on May 4. However, missing most of the clay-court season could make it tougher for her to perform on a surface she has historically found challenging.
A Turbulent Career and Recent Setbacks
This latest layoff adds to the disruptions in Raducanu's career. The second half of 2025 was a stable period, with regular tour appearances and a return to the top 30 rankings. However, 2026 has been marked by difficulties. A foot injury at the end of last season delayed her training, and she began the year with a loss to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup on January 5.
Her only positive highlight in 2026 was a run to the final at the WTA 250 event in Cluj, Romania, where she won consecutive matches for the first time since the US Open in August. Overall, Raducanu holds a modest 7-7 record for the year. She also made technical changes to her forehand, which underperformed in Australia, and recently ended her coaching partnership with Francisco Roig after six months.
Other Tennis News: Madrid Open Absences and Rybakina's Victory
The Madrid Open will also be missing several top men's players. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to a wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open, while Novak Djokovic opted out because of injury after competing just once since the Australian Open final. It remains uncertain whether Jack Draper, last year's finalist in Madrid, will participate after retiring from his first-round match in Barcelona.
In other tennis news, Elena Rybakina celebrated a victory at the Stuttgart Open, defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 to win her second title of the season. The world No. 2 also drove away with a Porsche car for the second time in her career, a prize that she eagerly anticipated. Rybakina's win places her among an elite group of active players with at least five WTA-level titles on multiple surfaces, joining Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, and Iga Swiatek.
Rybakina expressed her joy, stating, "It's an amazing tournament, we love coming back here ... It really feels like home and you just want to come back every year. Super happy for the second win here in Stuttgart and this beautiful car." Her success highlights a contrast to Raducanu's current struggles, underscoring the unpredictable nature of professional tennis.
