Emma Raducanu withdraws from major tournament on eve of opening game

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Miami Open due to a virus.

The female British No.1 was due to enter the hardcourt tournament, which begins on Tuesday, in the second round as the 24th seed.

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Raducanu will have faced the winner of the first round clash between fellow Brit Sonay Kartal and Peyton Stearns.

However, various reports on Monday evening stated that she will not be competing in Miami Gardens this year.

The 23-year-old is said to be recovering from post-viral symptoms.

Raducanu picked up the illness when competing in the Middle East in February.

As a result, the current world No.23 looks set to drop in the rankings.

The WTA 1000 event awards 35 ranking points to players who reach the second round, with 65 and 120 following in the next two.

Quarter-finalists earn 215, semi-finalists get 390 and the finalists bank 650, with the winner earning the grand prize of 1,000 points.

With Raducanu no longer competing, she will miss out on some vital points and could drop out of the top 30.

She was set to defend her 215 points from last year’s tournament after reaching the quarters, but will be losing those.

Jelena Ostapenko is 35 points behind Raducanu as things stand, and will therefore go level with her when he plays in the second round.

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More to follow…