Emma Raducanu Faces Significant Rankings Slide After Withdrawing From Miami Open Due to Viral Illness

Emma Raducanu pulls out of the 2026 Miami Open due to a virus, leading to a projected drop in her world ranking after failing to defend quarter-final points.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 8:21 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

Viral Illness Halts Raducanu’s Spring Campaign

The start of the 2026 season continues to be a struggle for Emma Raducanu, who has been forced to withdraw from the WTA 1000 event in Miami. The 23 year old former US Open champion is reportedly still suffering from the lingering effects of a virus she contracted in February. After a promising run to the final of the Transylvania Open, Raducanu’s form and health took a sharp decline during the Middle East swing, leading to early exits in Doha and Dubai. While she attempted to compete at Indian Wells last fortnight, a heavy third round loss to Amanda Anisimova indicated she had not yet returned to full physical fitness.

Impact on WTA Rankings and Point Defense

Raducanu’s absence from the Miami Open carries heavy consequences for her professional standing. Twelve months ago, she delivered one of her best performances since 2021 by reaching the quarter finals in South Florida, defeating elite opponents such as Emma Navarro before falling to Jessica Pegula. That run earned her 215 ranking points, all of which will be removed from her total when the WTA standings are updated following the tournament. Currently sitting at world No. 23 with 1,465 points, Raducanu has already slipped to No. 26 in the live rankings, with further drops possible as other competitors accumulate points during the event.

A Topsy Turvy Start to the 2026 Season

The withdrawal marks the latest chapter in what has been an inconsistent year for the Brit. Her 2026 campaign began with an injury forced withdrawal at the United Cup, followed by early losses at the Hobart International and the Australian Open. The brief highlight of her season came in Cluj, where she reached her first final since her historic 2021 US Open victory. However, the momentum from that runner up finish was quickly dampened by the onset of illness, which has now sidelined her for the remainder of the prestigious "Sunshine Double."