“It’s been a long few weeks since I last competed. I’ve made good progress, good gains in the last few weeks,” said Emma Raducanu shortly before her unexpected withdrawal from the Italian Open due to a post-viral illness. This decision came just minutes after she fulfilled her media obligations, emphasizing her ongoing struggles with health as she approaches the clay court season.
Raducanu has not participated in any tournaments since March 8, when she faced Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells. Prior to her withdrawal, she had been practicing at the Foro Italico in Rome for several days, indicating her intent to compete. However, sources suggest that her health issues ultimately led to this latest setback.
According to documents from the WTA, if Raducanu had not completed her media commitments, she would have incurred a $1,000 fine under the 2026 rulebook. This context adds weight to her decision to withdraw after fulfilling these obligations.
The Italian Open is set to take place from May 5 to May 17, with the women’s draw starting on May 5 and the men’s draw commencing on May 6. Jannik Sinner aims to continue his dominant run in men’s tennis at this prestigious event, while notable player Carlos Alcaraz will be absent from the men’s singles competition.
As Raducanu continues to navigate her health challenges, there remains a possibility that she could participate in warm-up events leading up to Roland-Garros. The French Open is a crucial tournament for many players, and it will be interesting to see if Raducanu can regain form and fitness in time.
