Emma Raducanu's rollercoaster season has hit yet another speed bump, as the British No. 1 has withdrawn from the Italian Open just weeks before the French Open gets underway.
The 23-year-old was slated to start her Rome campaign against either Solana Sierra or a qualifier, with a potential showdown against Coco Gauff looming in the later rounds. However, a lingering post-viral illness has forced her to pull out, adding to a frustrating stretch that has kept her sidelined since Indian Wells in March. A hand injury also contributed to her decision to skip last week's Mutua Madrid Open.
As a result, Raducanu heads into the clay-court major—which kicks off on May 24—without a single match on the surface this season. It's a tough break for a player who reached the fourth round in Rome just 12 months ago before falling to Gauff. Her absence is especially notable at the Italian Open, the last WTA 1000 event before Roland-Garros, where all of the top 20 players are set to compete.
Defending champion Gauff will open against either Yulia Putintseva or Czech teen Tereza Valentova, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka could face a tricky first match against 2021 French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova, who is returning from injury.
On the men's side, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie—fresh off a quarterfinal run at the Barcelona Open on clay—earns a bye into the second round. Jack Draper, however, is out for the remainder of the clay season as he continues to battle a series of injuries.
All eyes are on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is riding a historic run of five consecutive Masters 1000 titles and aims to make it six in his home country. Novak Djokovic will no doubt be relieved that he can only face the Italian in the final. Sinner is chasing the career Golden Masters—winning all nine Masters 1000 titles—a feat only Djokovic has achieved. Rome is the one title missing from the 24-year-old's collection. He's seeded to meet Jakub Mensik, one of the few players to beat him this year, in the third round, followed by rapidly rising Frenchman Arthur Fils in the fourth.