Emma Raducanu: British No 1 withdraws from Italian Open due to post-viral illness minutes after meeting media obligations Tennis News

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Italian Open in Rome due to a post-viral illness just minutes after completing her pre-tournament media obligations.

The British No. 1 had been training in Rome for the past few days and conducted his interviews before deciding to withdraw with his team on Tuesday.

He was absent on tour from Indian Wells in early March, before pulling out of tournaments in Miami, Linz and Madrid in early February, citing the lingering effects of a virus.

talking Sky Sports Tennis Just before his withdrawal, Radukanu said about his fitness and health: “It’s been a long few weeks since I last competed. I’ve made good progress, good gains in the last few weeks.

“I feel really positive about where I’m going and how I’m playing, what I’m doing on the court every day. I feel motivated and good to go. That’s a real win for me!”

Radukanu also opted to sit out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia, but remained optimistic about playing in Rome.

She was drawn to face Solana Sierra or a qualifier in the second round on Thursday or Friday but has yet to play a clay-court swing match.

to blush Spent last week training with Andrew Richardson in Spain At the Tennis Academy of Ferrara near Alicante, where he is based.

Richardson was the coach who was by his side nearly five years ago when he won the US Open title as a qualifier.

He has mainly worked with hitting partner Alexis Kanter since parting ways with Francisco Roig, although he briefly returned to Marc Pechee at Indian Wells in March.

Radukanu said: “I’ve had a good few weeks of clay preparation here and it’s good to see Andrew again. We’ve been in good shape but overall I’ve had a really good couple of weeks in Europe. The clay in Europe is a bit different to how it is back home so I’m feeling good overall.”

Britt has been working under the guidance of childhood trainer Jane O’Donoghue and physiotherapist Emma Stewart in Rome as she prepares for her comeback.

“Right now, physically, just trying to get up to speed in terms of playing points again. Practicing and playing points again, and setting and playing against top-level girls. Seeing where my game is and trying to react to the ball. So that’s what I was doing here, trying to focus,” the former US champ said.

The 23-year-old last played in the third round at Indian Wells on March 8, when she lost 6-1 6-1 against Amanda Anisimova.

Speaking afterwards, Raducanu admitted he felt a lack of energy contributed to his low-key display.

“I obviously have to be aggressive when playing those players, but I think there’s still a long way to go and I have to use my strengths and maybe mix it up a bit more,” he said.

Radukanu may play warm-up event before French Open

Radukanu can still play on the red dirt in the lead-up to the French Open, which runs from Sunday 24 May to Sunday 7 June.

The International de Strasbourg (May 17-23) or the Rabat Grand Prix (May 18-23) are his last options before Roland-Garros.

British No. 3 Katie Boulter Will hope to continue his promising start to the clay-court season by reaching the quarter-finals in Rouen and winning the Madrid Open.

She will open against German Eva Liss on Wednesday.

Cameron Norrie Has had a strong start to 2026 so far – reaching the third round at the Australian Open, quarter-finals in Indian Wells and Barcelona, ​​reclaiming the British No.1 title and breaking back into the top 20.

The two-time ATP champion on clay has a first-round bye, while Jacob Fearnley, Jan Choinski, Jack Pinnington Jones and Billy Harris are all trying to reach the main draw by qualifying.

World number one Janic Ciner and Novak Djokovic can only meet in the final.

The Serb will be making his first appearance since March when he lost to Jack Draper in Indian Wells.

If Cena wins at the Foro Italico, he will join Djokovic as the only men to complete a career Golden Masters.

Djokovic, 38, has won nine ATP Masters 1000 events twice.

When is Italian Open 2026?

The women’s draw begins on Tuesday, May 5, with the men’s set starting on Wednesday, May 6 – Sky Sports Tennis Live.

The event will run through the finals weekend on May 16 and 17.

Day session will start at 10 am, evening session will start at 6 pm.

Watch the ATP and WTA tours on Sky Sports or live Stream with NOW And The Sky Sports appSky Sports is giving subscribers access to more than 50 per cent of live games at no extra cost this year. Learn more here.