Emma Raducanu says she withdrew from the 2024 Miami Open because she did not want to “risk anything happening” after sustaining a lower back injury.
The 21-year-old had been set to meet China’s Wang Xiyu in the first round on Tuesday and her late pull-out follows an injury-hit 2023 including operations on her left ankle and both wrists.
“I have been experiencing lower back pain and at this stage of my return to competition I don’t want to risk anything happening,” Raducanu said in a statement issued by tournament organisers.
“I really tried my best to be ready and I’m sad to be pulling out of Miami as it’s a cool tournament, but wish the event all the best.”
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The 2021 US Open champion won successive matches for the first time in more than a year at Indian Wells earlier this month before losing in straight sets by world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Indian Wells last week.
Now ranked 288th, Raducanu was given a wildcard for Miami, where world number one Iga Swiatek is among the players to have won their opening matches.
Former British number one Raducanu could be selected for Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad for their qualifying-round tie with France from April 12-13 if her injury is minor.
Raducanu injuries ‘really difficult’
Raducanu said “feeling healthy on the court” had been “the biggest win” during her return, which has included a second-round exit at the Australian Open in January.
“I had three surgeries within 10 days, which was pretty intense,” she told The Tennis Channel earlier this month.
“You can’t do anything: you’re not allowed to sweat, you can’t move. I had a scooter, I couldn’t even use crutches because of my wrist surgery.
“It was really difficult. I was swapping – two weeks right in a cast, take that off, in splint, left in cast, in splint.
“It wasn’t necessarily smooth coming back, I had a few setbacks. I started training again in December, which is not much time to get ready.
“I know good things and good results will come as long as I can stay healthy and doing the work I am now consistently – day in, day out.”
