Raducanu withdraws from Miami Open because of illness

· BBC Sport
Emma Raducanu won the US Open in 2021 having come through as qualifierGetty Images

By
Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent
Published

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this week's Miami Open as she continues her recovery from a recent illness.

The British number one became unwell while playing in the Middle East last month, and is still suffering with post-viral symptoms.

She had a first-round bye for the event at Miami Gardens in Florida from 17 to 29 March.

Raducanu decided to play last week's event in Indian Wells, and reached the third round before losing in just 52 minutes to the world number six Amanda Anisimova.

The 23-year-old has 215 ranking points to defend from reaching the quarter-finals in Miami last year, but has decided it would be best to take a break to recover fully.

Raducanu beat both Anisimova and the then top 10 player Emma Navarro before losing to Jessica Pegula in three sets in last year's quarter-finals.

Bromley-born Raducanu had already decided not to play in 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.

She has entered the WTA event in Linz, which would be her first clay-court tournament of the season.

Kartal out, Jones draws Williams

Venus Williams, right, will be aiming for a first singles win since last July when she plays Fran JonesGetty Images

British number two Sonay Kartal has also been ruled out of the Miami Open after she failed to recover from a back injury in time.

Kartal impressed by getting to the last 16 at Indian Wells before withdrawing during her match against Elena Rybakina with the issue.

The 24-year-old had been due to play American Peyton Stearns her first-round match but has decided to pull out.

Elsewhere, Britain's Fran Jones has been drawn against American great Venus Williams in the first round of the Miami Open.

Williams, now 45, became the second oldest woman to win a WTA Tour-level singles match by beating Stearns at the Washington Open last July.

Since then, the seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one has lost eight out of eight singles matches, with her latest defeat coming against France's Diane Parry in the first round at Indian Wells.

Williams is 517 in the women's ranking, while 25-year-old Jones is ranked 93rd.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka, who won the tournament at Indian Wells, will start her Miami Open campaign in the second round against American Ann Li or a qualifier.

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