Emma Raducanu withdraws from Miami Open, faces likely rankings slide

World No. 23 Raducanu was set to be the 24th seed at the WTA 1000 event, having reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open twelve months ago. However, the former US Open champion will now not return to action until the clay-court swing, as she continues her recovery.

Raducanu is believed to have fallen ill in February, following her run to the final of the Transylvania Open in Cluj and a disappointing Middle East swing. She retired in the opening round of the Qatar Open against Camila Osorio and was then beaten in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships by Antonia Ruzic, struggling with illness at both events.

She appeared in good spirits heading into Indian Wells, defeating Anastasia Zakharova in her first match. But she looked far from her best against sixth seed Amanda Anisimova in round three, winning just three games in a 52-minute defeat.

Raducanu's quarter-final run at last year's Miami Open was one of her strongest performances since her 2021 US Open triumph. The Brit defeated Emma Navarro and Anisimova to reach the last eight, where she fell to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula. Her performance earned her 215 ranking points, which will drop off after this year's tournament.

In the WTA Live Rankings, Raducanu currently holds 1,465 points and is provisionally down three places to world No. 26. With main draw action starting on Tuesday, several players could overtake her once they accumulate points.

Her withdrawal continues a topsy-turvy start to 2026. She was forced out of her first match at the United Cup due to injury, followed by disappointing campaigns at both the Hobart International and Australian Open. A run to the Transylvania Open final - the first since her US Open victory - offered hope, but she was heavily beaten by Sorana Cirstea in the championship match and has struggled since.

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