Emma Raducanu news leaves tennis fans saddened in brutal new blow

Emma Raducanu has made the tough decision to withdraw from the Madrid Open, which will see her fall out of the top 100 in a brutal blow for the 20-year-old. Raducanu entered the clay court season under an injury cloud as she struggled with a wrist problem during Indian Wells and Miami Open.

After her early exit at the Stuttgart Open, where she lost to Jelena Ostapenko, Raducanu needed a strong result in Madrid to avoid sliding down the rankings. And her tournament got off to an unusual start as Raducanu took part in a bizarre press conference.

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Following the icy cold media exchange, Raducanu shocked the tennis world after she announced her withdrawal from Madrid. The tennis superstar withdrew from her match against 73rd-ranked Viktoriya Tomova due to her right wrist injury.

Her withdrawal from the WTA Masters event will see Raducanu drop out of the top 100. The former US Open winner could rely on a wildcard for her entry into Wimbledon if her ranking doesn't improve.

Her withdrawal is a bitter blow for the 20-year-old who has faced a number of injury setbacks, despite her young age. Raducanu now remains a doubt on whether she will play at Roland Garros as she looks to regain fitness.

The 20-year-old would also have one-eye on Wimbledon and playing in front of her home crowd. Fans were saddened to hear Raducanu's withdrawal as the tennis prodigy slides further down the rankings.

Raducanu's injury comes at a time when the 20-year-old appeared to be building form after some tough matches at Indian Wells and Miami. The British star was able to reach the round of 16 at Indian Wells before her loss to Iga Swiatek.

Raducanu was expected to meet Swiatek in the second round of the Madrid Open if she was able to advance past Tomova.

Emma Raducanu's icy cold press conference

Before her withdrawal, Raducanu engaged in an icy cold press conference with reporters. Responding to a question about tough draw, Raducanu said "it is what it is". And in regards to an ongoing wrist injury she simply offered "we're managing it".

Questions about her friendship with fellow British player Jodie Burrage were also met with short and terse answers, while she was also unwilling to respond to queries about her withdrawal from a Billie Jean King Cup tie against France earlier this month.

One journalist eventually asked: "You're not making this very easy. Is this deliberate that you don't want to make this too easy for us?" Raducanu simply replied "No."

An official from the WTA then called an end to the press conference, putting Raducanu and the reporters out of their misery. The Madrid Open's official website has been posting interviews with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, but Raducanu's is nowhere to be seen.

The move comes as Raducanu has struggled with form since her brilliant run as winner of the US Open in 2021. She was eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open in 2022 and 2023, as well as the second round of the French Open and Wimbledon last year. She was sent packing in the first round of the US Open last September while defending her title.

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