Madrid champion Kostyuk, Raducanu withdraw from Rome Two days after securing her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk withdrew from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia event in Rome due to a right hip injury. British player Emma Raducanu also pulled out of the Italian tournament, citing a post-viral illness. Both withdrawals came just days after their respective victories in Madrid, marking a significant setback for their clay-court campaigns. Kostyuk, the No. 27 seed, had entered the Rome tournament as a strong contender, aiming to become only the fourth woman in history to win both Madrid and Rome titles in consecutive years. The achievement would have joined an elite group including Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, and Iga Swiatek. Her path to the Madrid title was marked by a dominant straight-sets victory over Anastasia Andreeva, capping a streak of 11 consecutive wins on clay this year. Kostyuk’s success on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz included titles in Rouen and Madrid, solidifying her status as a rising force in women’s tennis. In a social media post, Kostyuk expressed her disappointment at missing the Rome event, stating, “After the best stretch of my career, I was looking forward to Rome. But sometimes your body has other plans… With my ankle still not fully at 100%, it’s just not smart to keep pushing right now.” She emphasized her commitment to recovery, vowing to return for the Paris tournament. Raducanu, the No. 23 seed, had not competed since her third-round exit at the Indian Wells event. Her withdrawal from Rome followed a prolonged absence due to a post-viral illness, which also forced her to skip the Linz and Madrid tournaments. The British player’s absence leaves a gap in the Rome draw, with her spot to be filled by a qualifier.#emma_raducanu #wta_1000 #madrid_open #internazionali_bnl_ditalia #mart_a_kostyuk
