Emma Raducanu's comeback trail hit another snag this week. The 2021 US Open champion was all set to compete at the Italian Open in Rome, but pulled out just before the tournament kicked off—right after wrapping up a round of media interviews on Tuesday.
It's been a frustrating stretch for the young Brit. She hasn't played a WTA Tour match since Indian Wells back in March, missing the Miami Open due to illness and now citing a lingering post-viral infection as the reason for her Rome withdrawal.
Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski weighed in on the situation during his 'Off Court with Greg' podcast, offering a candid look at Raducanu's current state. "It's such a shame because I watched her practice session," Rusedski said. "She's hitting the ball well, she's taking it early, she had like two practice sessions most days."
But the optimism quickly faded. "All of a sudden, everybody in the media is thinking, okay great, she's gonna restart up. They've put all the press out there saying she's playing in Rome and then boom—she's not playing. The virus reappears."
Rusedski raised important questions about Raducanu's support system. "I don't know whether she's got to get her nutrition up, whether she's gotta get a diet up, whether she's got to find some sort of solution because it's been a long, long time since she's played a match."
The clock is ticking. With the French Open just around the corner and the grass-court season—where Raducanu famously made her name—fast approaching, every missed match matters. "She needs matches," Rusedski emphasized. "If she's gonna go into grass court season, even if you don't play well on clay, it doesn't matter because you're on court, you're doing the reps and they pay off later."
So what's next for Raducanu? The options are limited. She might make a late start at Roland Garros, or she could write off the clay season entirely to focus on getting healthy for Wimbledon. "We'd all love to see her back, and we'd all love to know what's happening," Rusedski added. "Everybody's kind of up in the air right now."
The former pro had some straightforward advice: "She needs to have a travelling doctor. Why not put a team of a doctor, a nutritionist, somebody around you to just give you that opportunity to be able to get back on court? It's just been too stop-start."
For tennis fans and gear enthusiasts alike, Raducanu's journey remains one of the most compelling stories on tour. Whether she's chasing titles or just chasing fitness, her next move will be watched closely—and we'll be here to track every serve, every setback, and every comeback along the way.