Emma Raducanu Withdraws from Italian Open Minutes After Upbeat Press Conference

Key facts

• Raducanu withdrew from the Italian Open on May 5, 2026, less than 30 minutes after conducting a positive pre-tournament media conference.
• She has not played a match since Indian Wells on March 8, 2026, and has missed Miami, Linz, and Madrid due to the illness.
• Raducanu was scheduled to face Solana Sierra or a qualifier in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
• She had been practicing in Rome since Saturday and was accompanied by coach Jane O'Donoghue and physio Emma Stewart.
• Under WTA rules, players must fulfill media duties on site even after withdrawing; failure would incur a $15,000 fine.
• The 23-year-old briefly reunited with former coach Andrew Richardson at the Ferrer Academy in Benidorm to build fitness.
• World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is in the same half of the draw, and Raducanu could have faced Coco Gauff in the third round.

A Comeback Halted in Rome

Emma Raducanu’s return to competitive tennis lasted barely half an hour. On Tuesday evening, the 23-year-old British No 1 sat down for her mandatory pre-tournament press conference at the Foro Italico, speaking optimistically about her recovery from a post-viral illness that has sidelined her for two months. Just 30 minutes later, at 7 p.m. local time, the tournament supervisor confirmed her withdrawal from the Italian Open. The abrupt reversal left fans and officials scrambling. Raducanu had been practicing in Rome since Saturday, playing sets with other competitors, and had received a first-round bye as a seeded player. She was due to face world No 72 Solana Sierra of Argentina or a qualifier in the second round. Instead, her absence from the WTA Tour will stretch past the two-month mark, deepening concerns about her fitness and form.

The Press Conference That Preceded the Withdrawal

In her media availability, Raducanu struck a cautiously upbeat tone. “Last two months, in the beginning, it was quite difficult,” she said. “Wasn’t feeling the best physically. And I think it had just been lingering for a while. Whereas the last three weeks, I think I’ve really turned a corner and I feel so much better.” She added that the break had left her feeling “very motivated, very hungry and happy to be out here training.” Yet the optimism masked a deeper struggle. Raducanu acknowledged she was not yet at full strength. “I had six weeks almost of doing nothing just trying to recover from the virus, and it takes a lot out of you physically,” she told BBC Sport. “I’m feeling in a better place — not 100% — and I feel like I have got a great purpose.” The mixed signals — a player speaking of progress while still convalescing — underscored the fragility of her comeback.

The WTA Rule That Forced Her to Speak First

Raducanu’s decision to conduct media before withdrawing was not a choice but a requirement. Under the WTA rulebook, players on site must fulfill media obligations even if they intend to pull out; failure to do so can result in a fine of $15,000 (£11,000). By speaking first, Raducanu avoided the penalty, but the sequence — press conference then withdrawal — is unusual. Most players withdraw before explaining their decision in a press conference, not after. The rule exists to ensure tournaments receive adequate media coverage, but in Raducanu’s case it created an awkward juxtaposition: a player projecting confidence one moment, gone the next. The tournament supervisor confirmed the withdrawal at 7 p.m., and Raducanu’s name was removed from the draw.

A Season of Setbacks

This year has been a punishing one for Raducanu. She began 2026 with a foot injury, then contracted a virus during the Middle East swing in February that never fully resolved. At Indian Wells in early March, she lost 6-1, 6-1 to Amanda Anisimova in the third round — a result that prompted her to take an extended break. She subsequently missed the Miami Open, the clay-court events in Linz and Madrid, and now Rome. Raducanu has not played a single match on clay this season. Her last tournament was Indian Wells on March 8. In recent weeks, she trained at the National Tennis Centre in London and at the Ferrer Academy near Benidorm, where she briefly reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the 2021 US Open title. She arrived in Rome with Jane O’Donoghue, a friend and former LTA national coach, and physio Emma Stewart — the latter present during her interviews.

The Draw She Leaves Behind

Raducanu’s withdrawal reshuffles the bottom half of the Italian Open draw. As the world No 30, she was seeded and had a bye into the second round. Her potential path included a third-round meeting with reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff, a quarterfinal against Madrid Open finalist Mirra Andreeva, and a possible semifinal against world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The winner of the Sierra-qualifier match will now advance without playing Raducanu. Sabalenka, who is in the same half, has been vocal about player compensation, calling for a boycott of Grand Slams over prize money disputes. But for Raducanu, the immediate concern is not prize money but health. She last reached the fourth round in Rome a year ago, before Gauff eliminated her — her best run at the tournament.

What Comes Next for Raducanu

Raducanu has not set a date for her return. In her brief media appearance, she said she wants to come back only when “100% ready.” The post-viral illness has proven stubborn, and her team is likely to prioritize full recovery over rushing back for the French Open, which begins later this month. The British No 1 has not played a match on clay this year, making a deep run at Roland Garros unlikely even if she were fit. The extended absence raises questions about her ranking, which has already slipped to No 30. Without points from Rome and Madrid, she will drop further. More pressingly, the pattern of injury and illness — foot, virus, now post-viral fatigue — has limited her to just a handful of tournaments in 2026. Each setback erodes match sharpness and confidence.

A Pattern of Promise and Disruption

Raducanu’s career since her stunning US Open victory in 2021 has been defined by flashes of brilliance interrupted by long absences. She has changed coaches multiple times, battled injuries, and struggled to build sustained momentum. The current illness, which began as a virus in February, is the latest chapter in a story of unfulfilled potential. Yet those close to her describe a player who remains determined. “I have a lot of energy and motivation inside of me,” she said on Tuesday. The question is whether her body will allow that motivation to translate into matches. For now, Rome becomes another missed opportunity — and another reminder that for Raducanu, the hardest opponent may be her own health.

The bottom line

• Raducanu withdrew from the Italian Open minutes after a positive press conference, extending her absence to over two months.
• She has not played since Indian Wells on March 8 and has missed four tournaments due to post-viral illness.
• WTA rules forced her to fulfill media duties before withdrawing to avoid a $15,000 fine.
• Her potential draw included Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva, and Aryna Sabalenka.
• The 23-year-old has dealt with a foot injury and a virus in 2026, limiting her to few matches.
• No return date has been set; she aims to come back only when fully fit.