Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Italian Open due to a post-viral illness. This decision follows a series of upbeat media interviews where she expressed positivity about her progress. Her absence from the tour now extends beyond two months.
Raducanu last competed at Indian Wells in early March, where she suffered a heavy defeat against Amanda Anisimova, losing 6-1, 6-1 in the third round. She had been scheduled to face Solana Sierra or a qualifier in her second-round match at the Italian Open.
In the days leading up to her withdrawal, Raducanu practiced in Rome. She recently reconnected with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to victory at the US Open in 2021. However, she has primarily worked with hitting partner Alexis Canter since parting ways with Francisco Roig.
Key statements from Emma Raducanu:
- “It’s been a long few weeks since I last competed. I’ve made good progress, good gains in the last few weeks. I’m feeling really positive about where I’m heading and how I’m playing, what I’m doing on the court each day.”
- “Last two months, in the beginning, it was quite difficult. Wasn’t feeling the best physically. And I think it had just been lingering for a while.”
- “I feel great on the court. I feel like every day I’m working towards something.”
Looking ahead, Raducanu could still participate in warm-up events before the French Open. However, no official timeline has been shared regarding her return to competition.
