Emma Raducanu has to skip the tournament because a long-term illness is affecting her 2026 season.

Emma Raducanu has to skip the tournament because a long-term illness is affecting her 2026 season.

Emma Raducanu has been away from the WTA Tour for nearly two months now, as she pulled out of another tournament that was supposed to happen next week.
The US Open winner hasn’t played since losing 6-1, 6-1 to Amanda Anisimova in the second round of the Indian Wells Open on March 8.
Emma tried to come back for the Miami Open and had been training, but she said she’s still feeling the effects of a viral illness. She even mentioned this as a reason for her struggles on the court in February.
Now, at 23 years old, she’s withdrawn from the Madrid Open, which starts next week, extending her break after taking time off following her Miami issues.
Her team told The Guardian that Emma hopes to play at the Italian Open in Rome, starting in two weeks on May 4.
This will be an important step for her to get ready for Roland Garros at the end of May since she’s missed several weeks and most of the clay season.
Emma’s 2026 has been tough so far. She began the year with a loss to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup in Perth on January 5. That was her first match back after a foot injury, and she had only just started intense training before that game.
She’s not rushing to get back because she wants to be fully recovered from the illness and ready to play her best. This explains why she’s skipping the Madrid Open.
Emma is one of several big names missing from the tournament in Madrid. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic won’t be there either, both sitting out due to injuries.