Raducanu’s road leads from Rome to a French Open fitness race and questions beyond

Emma Raducanu withdrew from the Italian Open in Rome just 30 minutes after a press conference in which she gave little indication of her plans to pull out, extending her absence from competitive play to more than two months. The late withdrawal, which came ahead of her planned opening match on Thursday, has cast significant doubt over her participation at the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros. Raducanu had arrived in Rome early to train on the clay courts and assess her fitness, but her exit raised further questions rather than providing the clarity many had hoped for.