Raducanu completed pre-tournament media duties on Tuesday afternoon, moments before announcing her withdrawal. According to multiple reports, she risked an £11,000 fine if she did not hold a press conference before withdrawing. Raducanu is currently ranked 30th in the world, but her ranking is likely to fall if she does not defend points from the 2025 Italian Open, where she reached the fourth round.
If she falls outside the top 32, she will not be seeded at the French Open, which starts on May 18, and may need a wildcard or qualify. Raducanu has never progressed beyond the second round at the French Open. The specific virus causing her illness has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether she has fully recovered or is still symptomatic.
Raducanu trained with Andrew Richardson at the Ferrer Academy in Spain last week, but according to multiple reports, she has no plans to bring him back into her team full-time. She was joined in Rome by good friend Jane O’Donoghue. Raducanu hopes to return at the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg starting May 17, 2026.
However, it remains uncertain whether she will actually compete there or withdraw again. The Italian Open withdrawal marks another setback in a season disrupted by illness and injury, raising questions about her preparation for the clay-court swing. With the French Open looming, Raducanu faces a race against time to regain fitness and form.
Her last competitive appearance at Indian Wells saw her fall in the last 32 to Anisimova, and she has since been unable to build momentum. The decision to train with Richardson, who coached her during her 2021 US Open triumph, sparked speculation about a reunion, but sources indicate it was a temporary arrangement. Raducanu’s ranking has slipped from a career-high of 10, and missing Rome could see her drop further, complicating her path at Roland Garros.
The WTA rules require players to fulfill media obligations or face fines, and Raducanu’s brief press conference satisfied that requirement before her withdrawal. Her friend O’Donoghue’s presence in Rome provided support during a challenging period. The Strasbourg event offers a potential lifeline, but her participation depends on her recovery from the undisclosed illness.
Raducanu’s struggles on clay are well-documented, with her best French Open result being a second-round exit, adding pressure to her return timeline.