Emma Raducanu pulls out of Texas tournament with tonsillitis

In shocking news, British No. 1, Emma Raducanu, who is No. 80 in the world rankings, is in danger of dropping out of the top 100.

Due to tonsillitis, Emma Raducanu withdrew from the upcoming WTA event in Austin. This adds to her string of health setbacks since winning the US Open in September 2021.

The decision came shortly after the draw, leaving Raducanu with just four matches played this season.

She retired from her second outing, against Viktoria Kuzmova, in Auckland, with a damaged ankle.

Ranked No. 80, Emma Raducanu faces attrition, gradually slipping in the ranks. Her absence from events contrasts with her rivals’ active participation.

Her critics will no doubt point out that her Instagram feed has displayed one photograph of on-court training alongside three promotional posts since her last appearance at the Australian Open. (One for Tiffany & Co, one for Dior, and one for HSBC)

Raducanu travelled early to Texas in order to prepare for this WTA 250 event but fell ill soon afterward.

Remaining in the USA, she plans to move on to Indian Wells next week. The tournament is often informally called the “fifth major.”

After working with esteemed trainer Jez Green in the off-season, Raducanu arrived in Australasia in January visibly fitter and stronger. The transformation from the previous year was evident.

But even when she does compete, she is often carrying some sort of niggle.

She came into last summer’s Wimbledon under the cloud of an abdominal strain and battled with her ankle in the build-up to Melbourne last month.

”I’ve put a lot of physical work in the last few months and I’ve been feeling good and optimistic,” she said after her accident in Auckland seven weeks ago.

”So to be stopped by a freak injury, rolling an ankle is pretty disappointing.” Raducanu retired mid-match on four separate occasions last season and did so again in New Zealand. She has also pulled out of a number of tournaments without competing.

Covid disrupted her build-up to the 2022 Australian Open, and she then withdrew from October’s Transylvania Open because of the wrist trouble that hampered her training throughout much of the last off-season.

Her fragility means she has played only 45 matches since her miraculous US Open wins 17 months ago.

Over the same period, Iga Swiatek played exactly 100 matches. This may be an unfair comparison, given her world No. 1 status and consistent deep tournament runs.

Most players would be in the 70s or 80s.

Emma Raducanu could use some results at the so-called ”sunshine double” of big American tournaments  –  Indian Wells and Miami  –  over the next five weeks.

Should her lack of victories continue, she is in danger of dropping out of the top 100 by the end of April.

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