Emma Raducanu Withdrawal from French Open

Emma Raducanu announced her withdrawal from the tournament just 24 hours before the start of French Open qualifying. Despite being injury-free, the 21 years old chose to skip Roland Garros to prioritize training and maintaining her fitness for the rest of the year.

Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, did not receive a wildcard for the clay-court Grand Slam and her ranking did not secure her direct entry into the main draw. With qualifying set to begin on Monday and the tournament starting on May 26, Raducanu stressed the need to lay a strong foundation for the upcoming grass and hard-court seasons.

The decision follows Raducanu’s recent defeat in the first round of the Madrid Open, where she admitted to feeling mentally and emotionally drained. Despite practicing at the National Tennis Centre in London, the loss appeared to have affected her confidence after a promising start to the clay season. Ranked 212 in the world, Raducanu has faced setbacks including wrist and ankle surgeries last year but her protected ranking of 103 earned her the status of third alternate for the French Open.

While Emma Raducanu has not confirmed her participation in next month’s Nottingham Open, the first WTA event of the grass-court season, her choice to withdraw from the French Open underscores her focus on long-term fitness and performance.