Emma Raducanu's wait to return to competitive tennis continues, as the British star has withdrawn from the Italian Open due to the lingering effects of a post-viral illness that has kept her sidelined for two months.

The 23-year-old had been practicing in Rome since Saturday and even spoke with the media just 30 minutes before her official withdrawal. Under WTA rules, players must fulfill press obligations even after pulling out, so there was no clear sign her comeback was about to be postponed again.

"I feel really good right now in terms of where I am headed," Raducanu told the BBC before the announcement. "I think I have put a lot of good work in the last three weeks, but it's relatively early on in my return."

The former US Open champion hasn't played a match since March 8 at Indian Wells, missing Miami, Linz, and Madrid due to her symptoms. She's been training at the National Tennis Centre in London and the Ferrer Academy near Benidorm, but admits the road back is a gradual one.

"I had six weeks almost of doing nothing just trying to recover from the virus, and it takes a lot out of you physically," Raducanu explained. "I'm feeling in a better place—not 100%—and I feel like I have got a great purpose and a way about how I am approaching things right now."

Clay courts present a unique challenge for any player returning from illness, as the surface demands more sliding, stopping, and endurance. "Coming on to the clay courts is much more physically demanding than potentially other surfaces, but I want to come back 100% ready," she said.

With Rome now off the table, Raducanu has one last chance to play a WTA event before the French Open. For fans and fellow competitors alike, the question remains: when will we see Britain's No. 1 back on court, fully healthy and ready to compete at the highest level?