Emma Raducanu withdraws from Madrid Open as tennis absence continues

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of a third successive tournament (Getty)

Emma Raducanu has once again delayed the start to her clay-court season after withdrawing from the Madrid Open.

The British No 1 has not played since Indian Wells in early March, citing post-viral symptoms, and she is still working on recovering her full fitness.

Raducanu did not play at the Miami Open and pulled out of the Linz Open in Austria, which was scheduled to be her first event on clay.

Raducanu reached the second round of the Madrid Open last season before making it to the fourth round of the Italian Open in Rome.

She lost in the second round of last year’s French Open to defending champion Iga Swiatek.

This year, her preparations for Roland Garros may not begin until the Italian Open in two weeks.

The former US Open champion is 7-7 in all events in 2026 and has not played since losing 6-1 6-1 to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells.

Jack Draper is also a doubt for the Madrid Open after retiring from his match in Barcelona last week with a knee injury.

Draper reached the final of the Madrid Open last season, losing to former French Open champion Casper Ruud.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have also pulled out the Madrid Open, which starts on Tuesday in the Spanish capital