Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from next week’s Berlin Open as she continues to manage a recurring back problem.
The 22-year-old, who will reclaim her position as British number one on Monday, has been troubled by the issue since her appearance in Strasbourg last month ahead of the French Open.
Raducanu required an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final defeat to Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s on Friday.
“It’s been lingering for the last few weeks, and I’ve had back issues before,” she said. “It’s a vulnerability of mine, and I know I need to take good care of it. The back needs rest and careful management.”
Raducanu had chosen to play in Berlin after receiving a wildcard for the WTA 500 event, opting to skip Nottingham. The Berlin tournament, which begins Monday, features nine of the world’s top 10 players.
When the WTA rankings are updated, Raducanu will move ahead of Katie Boulter to become British number one once again.
She is still scheduled to play at Eastbourne, which runs from 23-28 June, before Wimbledon begins on 30 June. Last year, Raducanu claimed her first career win over a top-10 opponent by defeating Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne and went on to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon.
