Emma Raducanu out of pre-Indian Wells exhibition in new setback

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Tuesday’s Eisenhower Cup less than eight hours before the pre-Indian Wells exhibition event begins. It has thrown doubt over her current fitness ahead of the first WTA 1000 event of the year and is another setback to the Brit’s 2023 season after tonsillitis forced her out of last week’s ATX Open.

Raducanu was set to join forces with fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in Tuesday’s Eisenhower Cup – a Tie Break Tens event taking place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on the eve of the first 1000-point event of the year. But with less than eight hours until the tournament begins, the world No 77 has withdrawn and been replaced.

Indian Wells tournament organisers announced the news, tweeting: “Emma Raducanu is out of tonight’s Eisenhower Cup.” It remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old is just taking extra caution after tonsillitis forced her out of last week’s inaugural ATX Open or whether there is a more serious setback that could jeopardise her hopes of competing in the main event.

Raducanu has been replaced by Paula Badosa, who will team up with Norrie in a partnership of Indian Wells’ two 2021 champions, in a mixed-doubled format that sees teams play 10-point tiebreaks to advance.

In a further blow to Raducanu’s hopes for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, she also cancelled her planned practice session on Tuesday after her name disappeared from the schedule. The world No 77 has played just two events so far this year – the ASB Classic and the Australian Open – because of injury and illness.

Raducanu rolled her ankle in her second-round match in Auckland and was forced to retire in tears. It wrecked her preparation for the Australian Open but she chose to compete and won her opening round before losing to seventh seed Coco Gauff.