Emma Raducanu has made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming Berlin Tennis Open in order to address a persistent back issue that has been troubling her for several weeks. The 22-year-old tennis player first experienced discomfort in her back while competing in Strasbourg last month, just before the French Open. During her recent quarter-final match against Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s Club, Raducanu had to take a medical timeout off the court to manage the pain.

Following the match, Raducanu acknowledged the ongoing nature of her back problem, stating, 'It’s been lingering for the last few weeks and I have had back issues before. I think it’s just a vulnerability of mine. I’m not overly concerned that it’s something serious, but it’s something that’s very annoying and needs proper and careful management.'

Despite being offered a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 event in Berlin, Raducanu has opted to prioritize her health and well-being by taking time off to rest and recover. This decision means she will not be seeded for Wimbledon, her home grand slam tournament. However, she remains optimistic about her participation in the Eastbourne Open the week prior to Wimbledon.

Last year, Raducanu achieved a significant milestone in her career by securing her first victory over a top-10 player at Eastbourne, followed by a commendable fourth-round performance at the All England Club.