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Emma Raducanu withdraws from Madrid Open as Djokovic and Alcaraz cause draw chaos

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Madrid Open as she continues to recover from post-viral symptoms, missing her third consecutive tournament after pulling out of Miami and Linz

[Emma Raducanu reacts]

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Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Madrid(Image: 2026 Robert Prange)

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from her third successive tournament and will skip the upcoming Madrid Open as she continues her recovery from an illness contracted in February. The British No. 1 has not featured in a match since her defeat to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells six weeks ago, and has also sat out the Miami Open and the Upper Austria Ladies Linz while battling post-viral symptoms.

Raducanu remains optimistic that she'll make her comeback and start her clay season at the Italian Open, which begins in early May. It's believed she has resumed training, but isn't prepared to compete in Madrid yet.

Her absence represents another setback for tournament organisers, after world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and three-time former champion Novak Djokovic pulled out within hours of one another on Friday. Alcaraz suffered a wrist injury at this week's Barcelona Open, while Djokovic is managing a persistent injury and isn't yet fit to compete.

Raducanu, meanwhile, contracted a viral illness in February and struggled throughout the Transylvania Open final, where she was beaten by Sorana Cirstea. She subsequently travelled to the Middle East for the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai.

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Raducanu withdrew mid-match in Doha and exited in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. The world No. 29 later admitted that, looking back, she ought to have withdrawn from these tournaments.

Raducanu then competed at Indian Wells, where she claimed one victory before enduring a punishing 52-minute loss to Anisimova. She hasn't taken to the court since.

Raducanu progressed to the second round in Madrid last year before falling to Marta Kostyuk, and will forfeit 35 ranking points following this year's withdrawal.

[INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: Emma Raducanu of Great Britain shows her dejection after falling to the court against Anastasia Zakharova in their second round match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 06, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)]

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Emma Raducanu has pulled out of another tournament (Image: Clive Brunskill, Getty Images)

The Brit enjoyed greater success at the 2025 Italian Open, where she powered through to the fourth round before being defeated by Coco Gauff.

It's been a challenging campaign for Raducanu, whose pursuit of steady form has been undermined by injuries and illness. A foot problem disrupted her pre-season, and she only began hitting practice points days before her opening match of the year at the United Cup.

The 23-year-old suffered a second-round exit at the Australian Open and subsequently split from Spanish coach Francisco Roig. She has since been accompanied by her hitting partner, Alexis Canter, and physiotherapist Emma Stewart.

There were encouraging moments when Raducanu advanced to her first final since the 2021 US Open, ending as runner-up in Cluj in February.

However, she contracted a viral illness, and the persistent symptoms have since disrupted her season.

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