British tennis star Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Miami Open 2026, citing illness and lingering postviral symptoms as the reason for her absence, marking another setback in a challenging season.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, was due to compete in the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, Florida, which runs through March 29. She had earned a bye into the second round as the 24th seed but chose to pull out as she continues her recovery.
The 23yearold reportedly contracted a virus during her Middle East tour in February, and the postviral symptoms persisted, ultimately forcing her to skip one of the most significant hardcourt events on the calendar.
Raducanu’s withdrawal comes amid a season marked by fitness struggles, including a foot injury in the offseason, a split with longtime coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open, and early exits in Doha and Dubai.
Raducanu’s 2026 campaign reflected inconsistency: she posted a 7–7 win–loss record on the WTA Tour, with her notable victory coming against then World No. 86 Anastasia Zakharova.
RADUCANU FACES RANKING SLUMP
The decision to withdraw from Miami means she will miss defending the 215 ranking points she earned by reaching the quarterfinals of the same event in 2025—potentially impacting her WTA ranking, where she has fluctuated outside the top 30.
Last year in Miami, Raducanu produced one of her stronger performances, advancing to the quarterfinals before falling to fourth seed Jessica Pegula in a threeset battle. That run was one of her deeper results in a WTA 1000 event since her Grand Slam breakthrough.
Her withdrawal also affects Great Britain’s representation in Miami; alongside Raducanu, other players like Sonay Kartal have also pulled out due to injury, reshaping the British presence in the draw.
Raducanu’s team has signalled that she plans to rest and rehabilitate fully before returning to competition ahead of the claycourt season in April, with events such as the Linz Open expected to feature in her schedule.
