Raducanu Withdraws from Miami Open
Emma Raducanu, the British number one, has withdrawn from the Miami Open this week as she continues to recover from a recent illness. Raducanu became unwell while competing in the Middle East last month and is still experiencing post-viral symptoms.
Despite her condition, Raducanu chose to participate in last week's Indian Wells tournament, where she advanced to the third round before being defeated in just 52 minutes by world number six Amanda Anisimova.
The 23-year-old has 215 ranking points to defend from reaching the quarter-finals of the Miami Open last year but has decided that taking a break to fully recover is the best course of action. In the previous year’s Miami Open, Raducanu defeated both Anisimova and then top 10 player Emma Navarro before losing in three sets to Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.
This year, Raducanu had a first-round bye and could have faced British childhood rival Sonay Kartal in the second round. She had already opted out of Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup tie in Melbourne next month but is currently scheduled to return to the tour in three weeks' time. Raducanu has entered the WTA event in Linz, which would mark her first clay-court tournament of the season.
Jones Paired with Williams
Great Britain's Fran Jones has been drawn to play against American tennis legend Venus Williams in the first round of the Miami Open. Williams, aged 45, became the second oldest woman to win a WTA Tour-level singles match by defeating Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open last July.
Since that victory, the seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one has lost eight consecutive singles matches, with her most recent defeat coming against France's Diane Parry in the first round at Indian Wells. Williams is currently ranked 517th in the women’s rankings, while 25-year-old Jones holds the 93rd position.
Sonay Kartal, who impressed by reaching the last 16 at Indian Wells before withdrawing during her match against Elena Rybakina due to a lower back injury, will face Peyton Stearns in the Miami Open first round, which begins on Tuesday.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka, who won the Indian Wells tournament, will commence her Miami Open campaign in the second round against American Ann Li or a qualifier.
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