Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Miami Open as illness continues to disrupt her season.
The British number one pulled out of the WTA 1000 event on Monday after failing to recover from post-viral symptoms that started during the Middle East swing in February. The virus hit her hard in Doha, where she retired from her first-round match, and carried into Dubai for another early exit. Those effects have lingered into March, forcing her to skip the tournament in Florida despite her entry as the 24th seed with a first-round bye.
Raducanu’s most recent action came at Indian Wells earlier this month. She advanced to the third round with a straight-sets win over Anastasia Zakharova but then lost 6-1 6-1 to Amanda Anisimova.
Her season record sits at seven wins and seven losses. She reached the final at the WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca and recorded her best win of the year against world No 86 Zakharova, yet health problems have prevented her from stringing together consistent results.
An off-season foot injury already limited her preparation before the United Cup. She later opted out of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Australia in Melbourne. Now the Miami absence adds to the list of interruptions.
This latest withdrawal will cost Raducanu ranking points. She made the quarter-finals at the same event last year, earning 215 points that she drops from her tally. Ranked around No 23 and the British number one, she now faces a slide that could affect her seeding at future tournaments.
Raducanu continues to compete without a permanent coach. She split with Francisco Roig after the Australian Open and has worked with Mark Petchey on a temporary basis. The lack of a steady voice in her corner comes at a time when stability feels harder to find.
The 2021 US Open champion has shown she can fight back from setbacks. Multiple wrist and ankle surgeries kept her off the tour for much of 2023, yet she worked her way back into the top 30 with strong runs last year, including that Miami quarter-final. This season started with promise but health concerns have repeatedly reshaped her calendar.
The Miami Open offered a chance to build on hard-court form ahead of the clay swing. Instead, Raducanu will focus on full recovery. Her next appearances are expected on European clay in April, possibly starting at events like Charleston before Madrid and Rome.
The pattern of absences has created clear instability in her schedule. Fitness issues have made it tough to maintain momentum and lock in a reliable tournament plan. With the French Open on the horizon, every missed event carries extra weight for her ranking and preparation.
Raducanu’s team confirmed the decision through the WTA. No timeline has been set for her return, but the priority remains clearing the post-viral symptoms completely. She has dealt with similar disruptions before and found ways to push forward.
Tennis followers will track her progress closely over the coming weeks. The 23-year-old has the talent and determination that carried her to a Grand Slam title as a qualifier. Right now, the focus stays on getting healthy and finding the consistency that has proved elusive so far in 2026.
The withdrawal also affects the draw in Miami. Organizers noted her exit alongside other late changes, including Sonay Kartal pulling out for separate reasons. Attention turns to the rest of the field as the tournament gets underway on Tuesday.
Raducanu’s story this year reflects the physical demands of the modern tour. From the foot problem early on to the February virus and its ongoing impact, each issue has forced adjustments. She has kept competing where possible, showing commitment even when conditions were far from ideal.
Her path back from surgery in 2023 built resilience that many admire. The current challenges test that same strength in different ways. As the clay-court season approaches, fans hope the time away from competition allows her to reset and arrive ready for the next phase.
The ranking implications add pressure. A drop from her current position could mean tougher early matches at the next majors. Miami last year marked a breakthrough at the 1000 level. This year the missed opportunity underscores how quickly one health issue can shift the outlook.
Raducanu has spoken in the past about the importance of listening to her body after years of injury battles. The decision to withdraw aligns with that approach, protecting her long-term fitness over a single event. The tennis world waits to see how quickly she can return to full action.
