Raducanu withdrawal – Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Italian Open in Rome due to a post-viral illness, raising new questions over her French Open plans.
Emma Raducanu’s push for a clay-court comeback has hit another snag, with Misryoum reporting she has withdrawn from the Italian Open in Rome due to a post-viral illness.
The 23-year-old’s decision came only a short time after she had addressed the media and projected optimism about her progress.. During her pre-tournament remarks. Raducanu said she felt she had “turned a corner. ” while also describing herself as motivated. eager. and hungry to get back out on court.. Earlier in the week. she had been in Rome training and involved in practice matches. adding to the suddenness of the withdrawal.
In this context, the timing is as notable as the diagnosis itself, because players can look sharp in session work long before matches reveal how the body reacts in competitive conditions.
Raducanu previously missed multiple events while working through complications linked to a viral illness.. She has not played since March 8. and her recent calendar includes withdrawals from both the Linz Open and the Madrid Open earlier in May. along with missing the Miami Open after contracting the illness following her run to the Transylvania Open final in February.
With the Italian Open exit confirmed at the tournament level, uncertainty now stretches to her next major target.. Her French Open participation is in doubt. with Misryoum noting she still has the opportunity to return through upcoming WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat before Roland-Garros begins on May 24.
This matters because the margin for error narrows quickly in the build-up to a Grand Slam, where readiness is not only about form but also about sustained physical confidence across consecutive matches.
For Raducanu, the immediate focus will be recovery and careful management of training, especially as clay can demand extra from the body compared with other surfaces. She has spoken in the past about needing to be 100% ready, and the current situation makes that approach even more relevant.
Misryoum will continue to follow updates on her condition as the tennis calendar moves toward Paris, where her status could change depending on how her post-viral recovery develops in the coming days.