BREAKING NEWS: Emma Raducanu WITHDRAWS from the Madrid Open with a hand injury – and could now lose her top-100 ranking – hours after her bizarre 58-word interview
- Emma Raducanu faced Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova on Wednesday
- The latest setback is another blow to a difficult season for the 2021 US Open winner
- Lack of court time means she may now need a wild card to enter Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu on Wednesday withdrew from her scheduled first-round match at the Madrid Open, citing a problem with her right hand.
The British No. 1 may now fall out of the top 100, as she will lose the points she earned by reaching the third round in the Caja Magica twelve months ago.
Raducanu was scheduled to play Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova in Manolo Santana’s main stadium on Wednesday afternoon, but was not on the morning practice schedules.
It is the latest setback for the 2021 US Open champion in what is proving to be another difficult season.
On Tuesday, somewhat jaded, she gave a brusque preview interview on the tournament’s media day, giving monosyllabic answers to relatively anonymous questions, and no mention of any specific problem with her hand.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Madrid Open after a right hand injury
It comes shortly after blocking reporters, with just 58 words in response to 16 questions
She will play at the Italian Open in Rome next weekend for Roland Garros, although little is known about her latest physical issue.
She has played just ten games so far this season, amassing a 5-5 record and could now even need a wild card to compete at Wimbledon.
There were concerns about the British star heading into the tournament after her interactions with the media on Tuesday
This was shown on Tuesday by adding up the number of words she – 58 – managed to answer to sixteen questions. They were politely asked by the two UK writers who had ventured out for the opening of one of the biggest events on the calendar outside of the Grand Slams.
At the end of an awkward encounter that lasted less than three minutes, one could only conclude that the effort to defend her top 100 status is starting to show. And you could certainly conclude that the novelty of dealing with people like us has worn off.
It is a far cry from her positive interactions with the media following her shock win at the 2021 US Open
Entering a mostly deserted mixed zone, it soon became apparent that Emma, looking somewhat jaded, had bayonets on.
Friendly questions about her physical condition received monosyllabic answers. An attempt to add some shine to her last two defeats failed to lighten the mood.
Not long after this futile exercise, the WTA Tour chaperone on duty abandoned the baffling proceedings and we had to turn our attention to other players dutifully stepping in to fulfill their responsibilities, such as Andy Murray.
It must be said that Raducanu, intelligent and normally articulate, has generally approached this side of her work with aplomb so far.