Raducanu withdraws from Miami Open due to illness

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this week’s Miami Open as she continues her recovery from a recent illness.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

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.

This year she had a first-round bye, and could have played British childhood rival Sonay Kartal in the second round.

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.

Great 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 Peyton 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.

Kartal, who impressed by getting to the last 16 at Indian Wells before withdrawing during her match against Elena Rybakina with a lower back injury, will play Stearns in the Miami Open first round, which starts on Tuesday.