26 February 2023 , 13:55
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British tennis star Emma Raducanu has pulled out of her first competition since the Australian Open after suffering from tonsillitis.
Raducanu was preparing for the ATX Open in a bid to improve her world ranking from 81st. However, the 20-year-old has been forced to pull out of the inaugural WTA Tour Tournament which starts on Monday.
"I’m sorry to have to withdraw from the ATX Open," Raducanu explained in a brief statement. "I am currently suffering from tonsillitis and am unable to compete this week. Thank you to the tournament for the great hospitality here in Austin."
The British No.1 has had a troubled start to the year after sustaining an ankle injury in the build-up to the Australian Open last month.
Despite winning her first round match at Melbourne Park, the young Brit was beaten by talented American Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-7 in the following round.
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After the Grand Slam tournament Raducanu said she was going to focus on strengthening her body ahead of the build-up to the French Open in May.
"I just have to review my body right now," she said. "I've had some niggles in the past few months, and I just need to get that sorted, train, and then we'll see after that."
Emma Raducanu suffered a second round defeat at last month's Australian Open (Getty Images)Raducanu will be hoping for a return to full health ahead of the Indiana Wells Masters which begins on March 2, after being handed a wildcard for the prestigious event. Ahead of the tournament, the youngster will partner fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in the one-night Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles, consisting of the Tie Break Tens format.
The young Brit won one warm-up match at the ASB Classic before pulling out with an ankle injury prior to the Australian Open. Any more time off the court could see Raducanu drop outside of the world's top 100 players which would require her to obtain a wildcard to enter Wimbledon this summer.
Former Olympic champion Monica Puig believes that Raducanu should target smaller events to re-ignite her tennis career.
The 2016 Olympic Games champion Monica Puig has urged Emma Raducanu to compete in smaller tournaments"Not necessarily big ones because she won that Grand Slam title, but she hasn't been able to string many results together in a row," Puig told Sky Sports. "Let go of the expectation after winning a Grand Slam. First, it's small goals so quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals consistently of 250 events.
"Maybe win a couple more matches in a row and work on things on the court. See your opponents. What are they doing to you? Where are the holes in my game and start filling in those holes by practising more on those things. It can take the pressure off her back."