Emma Raducanu pulls out of Miami Open with lower back injury | Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu withdrew from the Miami Open on the eve of the joint ATP and WTA 1000 tournament due to a lower back injury.

Raducanu was hoping to build on her positive performances in Indian Wells over the past two weeks and had been handed a fair draw, with a first round match against Wang Xiyu of China with the winner facing Anna Kalinskaya, the 22nd seed. in the second round.

At Indian Wells, Raducanu won two matches in a tournament for the first time since his return to the tour earlier in the year. Raducanu then lost 6-3, 7-5 for Aryna Sabalenkashowing off his fighting and shooting skills in two tight, quality sets.

Instead of continuing to gain momentum and earn points to climb back up the rankings following his eight-month layoff due to surgeries on both hands and an ankle, Raducanu has suffered another disappointing setback.

According to a member of Raducanu’s group, the injury is not serious, but he has been experiencing pain in his back and did not want to risk it getting worse. It remains to be seen whether Raducanu will be fit for the Billie Jean King Cup tie against France next month, which is his next scheduled competition.

Last week, she was announced as part of the British team alongside Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Harriet Dart for the qualifying heat at Le Portel. The tie begins on April 12, meaning Raducanu has three and a half weeks to recover and prepare for the start of another clay court season.

In the men’s draw, Andy Murray faces a tough first round match against former top 10 player Matteo Berrettini. a finalist at Wimbledon in 2021Berrettini is on track to make a comeback after an injury-ravaged 18 months and has fallen out of the top 100. The Italian played his first tournament in seven months last week, reaching the final of the Phoenix Challenger before losing to the world’s No. 60. world. , Nuno Borges from Portugal. Last year, Murray recovered from a match point down. defeat Berrettini after five sets in the first round of the Australian Open.