Emma Raducanu has been missing in action since early March. After her extended break, the British star gave fans hope of a potential comeback at the 2026 Italian Open by making her presence felt in Rome. She has, however, abandoned the tournament days ahead of her scheduled opener.
This is her fourth withdrawal in the last two months. Raducanu was defending 120 points at the WTA 1000 event, having reached the fourth round last year.
Emma Raducanu’s Complications Continue With Italian Open Withdrawal
Raducanu, seeded 27th at the Italian Open, had received a direct entry to the second round, where she would’ve faced either Solana Sierra or a qualifier. She will now be replaced by a qualifier or lucky loser in the round of 64.
Bizarrely, the Brit pulled out minutes after speaking to the press, where she reportedly expressed that she was looking forward to competing at the tournament.
“I feel great on the court. I feel like every day I’m working towards something. The break has helped me feel really motivated coming back, very hungry and happy to be out here training and putting out great sessions every day,” she said.
Emma Raducanu withdraws from the Italian Open, citing post-viral illness. JUST MINUTES after speaking to British reporters looking ahead to the event
— Charlie Eccleshare (@CDEccleshare) May 5, 2026
Raducanu has been haunted by illness-related complications ever since she fell ill in February during her run to the final at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca. She did participate at the WTA 1000 events in the Middle East in the weeks that followed, retiring mid-match in Doha and losing her opening match in Dubai.
At Indian Wells, she reached the third round, where she was thoroughly beaten by Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-1. The 23-year-old has been absent since. She pulled out of the Miami Open, citing lingering effects of viral illness. Her appearances in Linz and Madrid were similarly canceled, delaying her clay-court run.
It seemed like Raducanu was finally ready to compete, starting with the Italian Open. She reached Foro Italico, the tournament’s venue, days in advance and took part in multiple practice sessions. The player appeared upbeat in the clips of her trainings that were shared online.
emma emma practice https://t.co/1kKScvbZDJ pic.twitter.com/OlrDaLMSRR
— pajinka, M.D. (@muchopaja) May 5, 2026
She was accompanied by Jane O’Donoghue, her childhood coach and occasional mentor. It was also recently reported that Emma Raudcanu had completed a training block on clay with Andrew Richardson, her former coach who guided her to glory at the 2021 US Open.
MORE: Emma Raducanu Shows Up at the Italian Open Venue After Prolonged Absence
The latest setback will have a negative impact on the Brit’s ranking. Presently, she isn’t scheduled to compete at any tournament a week before the French Open, which is the final clay event of the season. At the Slam in Paris, Raducanu is defending 70 points from her second-round appearance last year. It remains to be seen whether she decides to compete or skips the clay swing altogether.
