After a solid run to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, her best since winning the 2021 US Open, Emma Raducanu has made the decision to step away from the tennis court for a break.
The 22-year-old has withdrawn from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup ties in the Netherlands this week, and according to Sky Sports, she will also miss the upcoming WTA 250 Open de Rouen next week. There is growing uncertainty about her participation in the WTA 1000 Madrid Open in May, with some speculating that Raducanu may not return until the summer.
While it remains unclear whether Raducanu is recovering from a minor injury or simply taking time to rest, one thing is certain: she won’t be competing much in April. This extended break means that she will soon lose the 108 ranking points earned from her 2024 quarter-final run at the Stuttgart Open, with those points due to drop off next week. If she also skips Madrid this year, she will lose an additional 10 points from a first-round defeat last May.
As a result, Raducanu could fall out of the WTA Top 50, with her former junior rival Sonay Kartal potentially closing in on her in the rankings ahead of the French Open.
Raducanu has emphasized that her health is her priority, a reasonable stance considering the numerous injuries that have hampered her career. Despite the setbacks, she remains confident in her ability to compete with the best after a strong run in Miami, which included victories over top-10 player Emma Navarro and recent WTA 1000 champion Amanda Anisimova.
Patrick Mouratoglou, Raducanu’s coach, has suggested that the mental challenges of the sport have taken a toll on her, just as much as the physical injuries she has faced. In an interview with Tennis365, Mouratoglou spoke about the mental strain of competing at the top level, especially for players like Raducanu who are under constant scrutiny from both the media and fans.
“Many players are confident they can play good tennis when they’re at the top, but they often lack belief against certain opponents,” he said. “In places like Britain, where tennis attracts so much media attention, players like Emma risk facing constant criticism, which can be mentally exhausting.”
As Raducanu takes her break, she is likely training at the LTA’s indoor clay courts in London, preparing for her eventual return.
