Emma Raducanu has been absent from competitive tennis for five weeks, fuelling growing speculation that Britain's top-ranked woman may bypass part or all of the clay-court season.
The 2021 US Open champion last competed at Indian Wells, where Amanda Anisimova defeated her 6-1, 6-1 in a one-sided encounter.
Since that loss, Raducanu has pulled out of tournaments in Miami and Linz, attributing her withdrawals to lingering effects from a viral illness she first reported in Cluj during February.
Though her name appears on the Madrid entry list for next week, questions persist about whether she will actually make the trip to Spain.
Emma Raducanu has pulled out of tournaments in Miami and Linz recently
|REUTERS
Raducanu's world ranking slipped to 29 this week, leaving her barely inside the top 32 required for Wimbledon seeding in late June.
The situation could deteriorate further given she must defend fourth-round points from Rome next month, meaning she needs to compete and perform well to maintain her protected position when the All England Club draw is made.
Clay represents Raducanu's weakest surface statistically, with her win percentage hovering just above 50 per cent.
Speaking at last year's Madrid tournament, she acknowledged her discomfort: "I don't necessarily feel very comfortable… I found moving really difficult – I felt like I was slipping around."
Raducanu's preparations have been further complicated by the absence of a permanent coach following her split with Francisco Roig after the Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu suffered from a viral illness and there has been little update since
| GETTYRoig has since taken up a position with reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, leaving Raducanu to rely on hitting partner Alexis Canter for guidance.
Mark Petchey was spotted in her player box at Indian Wells, though his broadcasting commitments restrict how much support he can offer.
Training options in London also present challenges, as genuine European red clay remains scarce in the capital, with only a small number of clubs possessing courts made from proper crushed brick.
Reports indicate that Raducanu may already be preparing to write off the entire clay swing, opting instead to concentrate her efforts on the grass-court season.
Her French Open record offers little incentive to persist, having competed at Roland Garros just twice in her career, exiting in the second round on both occasions in 2022 and 2025.
British tennis more broadly has endured a difficult 2026, with Jack Draper also battling injury problems after retiring from his Barcelona first-round match on Monday due to knee trouble.
Should Raducanu withdraw from Madrid, British representation at the combined Masters event may be limited to Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie.