Emerging tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has made the challenging decision to withdraw from the Miami Open taking place in the United States this week. The 21-year-old, who has been steadily making a comeback after a season plagued by injury in 2023, is reportedly struggling with a lower back issue.
Raducanu was scheduled to compete against China’s Wang Xiyu in the tournament’s first round on Tuesday. This news follows her recent defeat in straight sets by Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka during the third round at Indian Wells.
At present, the severity of Raducanu’s injury remains undisclosed, leading to questions about its potential impact on her participation in the Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad for their upcoming qualifying-round tie with France in April.
Before her loss against Sabalenka, Raducanu achieved consecutive victories for the first time since her triumphant performance at Indian Wells a year ago. The 2021 US Open champion courageously returned to the tour in January after an eight-month absence, during which she underwent operations on both wrists and her left ankle.
Currently ranked 288th in the world rankings, Raducanu, who was granted a wildcard for the Miami Open, emphasized earlier this month that her primary focus this year is on developing her game and not fixating on specific match outcomes.
In other tennis news, notable British players such as Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper, and Katie Boulter, are gearing up to commence their respective tournaments in Miami. Two-time Florida winner Murray is set to clash with Italian Matteo Berrettini in the first round on Wednesday, with the winner progressing to face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round.
On the other hand, Draper, 22, will go up against Taro Daniel of Japan, while 33-year-old Evans is slated to play against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. As for British number ones Norrie and Boulter, their first-round matches are scheduled for Friday, having both received a bye as part of the 32 men’s and women’s seeded players.
The withdrawal of Emma Raducanu from the Miami Open undoubtedly comes as a disappointment to her fans. Nonetheless, her dedication to prioritising her health and long-term performance is certainly admirable. We wish her a swift recovery and look forward to seeing her back on the court soon.