Emma Raducanu withdraws from French Open qualifying to focus on grass court game

Emma Raducanu, a former US Open winner, might not play in the French Open at Roland Garros. She decided to not participate in the qualifying tournament this week. If she had played in the qualifiers and won, she would have secured a spot in the main draw. However, her name was not on the list of qualifiers. Raducanu mentioned that she wants to focus on training to stay healthy for upcoming tournaments on grass and hard courts. She played in the French Open in 2022 but lost in the second round. This year, she did not receive a wild card to enter the tournament. Raducanu recently faced challenges in tournaments, feeling tired and losing matches. She withdrew from the French Open qualifiers without giving a specific reason. She is practicing on hard courts instead of clay courts, indicating she is preparing for the grass court season and Wimbledon. Raducanu had some success in previous matches, but she also experienced defeats that left her feeling exhausted. She aims to avoid injuries and stay fit for future competitions. Raducanu clarified that she withdrew from the French Open qualifiers to focus on training and prevent injuries. She has been training on hard courts and plans to shift her focus to the grass court season. Her decision to skip the qualifiers was strategic, considering her recent challenges and the need for physical and mental rest. Raducanu's coach and others in the tennis community have expressed understanding for her decision and emphasized the importance of balancing competition and well-being in professional sports.