Emma Raducanu suddenly withdraws from Italian Open after press conference
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Italian Open because of her continued difficulties with post-viral illness, less than 30 minutes after positively discussing her presence in Rome during her pre-tournament media interviews.Raducanu has spent the last few days competing at the Foro Italico, playing practice sets with other competitors and, having received a bye as a seeded player, she was scheduled to contest her second-round match against Solana Sierra or a qualifier.On Tuesday evening, Raducanu conducted her mandatory pre-tournament media obligations, speaking about her progress after a tricky spell.“Last two months, in the beginning, it was quite difficult,” she said.“Wasn’t feeling the best physically.
And I think it had just been lingering for a while.Whereas the last three weeks, I think I’ve really turned a corner and I feel so much better.“And that’s a really positive thing for me.I feel great on the court.I feel like every day I’m working towards something.
The break has helped me feel really motivated coming back, very hungry and happy to be out here training and putting out great sessions every day.”Less than half an hour later, the tournament supervisor confirmed at 7pm local time that Raducanu had withdrawn.Players on-site at tournaments on both the WTA and ATP tours are required to conduct at least one post-withdrawal activity, which includes their media availability, in order to avoid a fine.Had she not spoken to the media, Raducanu would have received a $15,000 (£11,000) fine for not complying with the on-site withdrawal rules.It is not unusual for players to withdraw from tournaments a day or two after conducting their media duties.
However, in Raducanu’s situation, most players would have first withdrawn before explaining the withdrawal in their press conference.Raducanu’s withdrawal means her absence from the sport will extend to more than two months.The British No 1 had begun to struggle with a virus throughout the Middle East swing in February but the symptoms had not abated by early March.After a poor showing that month at Indian Wells, losing 6-1, 6-1 to Amanda Anisimova in the third round, she opted to spend an extended period on the sidelines.This has been another difficult year for Raducanu, who started the season with a foot injury before her illness.
She had appeared to turn a corner in recent weeks, briefly reuniting with her former coach Andrew Richardson to build up her match fitness at the Ferrer academy in Benidorm.Asked if these challenges were mentally draining, Raducanu responded with optimism.“Potentially [draining mentally],” she said.“When you have things going on, every day you’re working at it, it’s something you have in your head, but now in terms of body, injuries-wise, I feel very good.I don’t have anything that’s bothering me, and I’m just able to put out good days and I feel like I’m approaching each day, shot with great purpose.
I have a lot of energy and motivation inside of me,”
UK 30-year borrowing costs hit highest since 1998 amid oil price surge and political uncertainty – as it happened
Time to wrap up…The UK government’s long-term borrowing costs have hit their highest level since 1998, amid rising fuel prices and concerns about political stability.The yield – effectively the interest rate – on 30-year UK government bonds (gilts) hit 5.77% at lunchtime on Tuesday, up 0.13 percentage points – exceeding the 27-year high reached last September.Yields have been rising across leading economies amid renewed fears over rising inflation, after US efforts to escort ships through the strait of Hormuz prompted Iranian reprisals
HSBC profits fall amid $400m fraud-related charge and Iran war
HSBC has taken a $1.3bn (£961m) hit to profits, amid the fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran and fraud in the troubled private credit sector.The London-headquartered bank said profits fell 4% in the first three months of the year, dropping $100m to $9.4bn, compared with the same period in 2025. Revenue increased 6% to $18
Ken Eason obituary
My friend and former colleague Ken Eason, who has died aged 83, was an eminent academic. He specialised in the study of how the introduction of computer technology affects managers and employees in organisations, often with unexpected consequences.Much of his work took place at Loughborough University, where he was involved in the formation in 1970 of the university’s Human Sciences and Advanced Technology (HUSAT) Institute, which carried out some of the earliest research on human-computer interaction.He was the institute’s deputy director until succeeding its founder, Brian Shackel, as its director in 1992, holding that position until Husat was disbanded in 1996. Thereafter he was professor of cognitive ergonomics at Loughborough until his retirement in 2002
Richard Dawkins concludes AI is conscious, even if it doesn’t know it
When Richard Dawkins met Claudia it was like a whirlwind romance. Over three days last week, a conversation bounced between the evolutionary biologist and the AI bot he called Claudia. “She” wrote poems for him in the manner of Keats and Betjeman and laughed at his “delightful” jokes. Dawkins gently admonished Claudia to avoid showing off. Together, they reflected on the sadness of the AI’s possible “death”
Sabalenka believes players will boycott grand slams to ‘fight for our rights’
Aryna Sabalenka believes the top tennis players will boycott grand slam tournaments in an attempt to resolve their dispute with the four events, which they argue should provide players with a greater share of their growing revenues.“I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah,” said the world No 1 during her pre-tournament press conference at the Italian Open. “I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”Her comments come after a group of the top 20 male and female players released a statement criticising the prize money levels offered at the French Open, which begins this month. Sabalenka argued the players should be better compensated for their influence on tournament finances
London Marathon sets record after 1.8% of UK adult population applies for 2027 race
The London Marathon has set yet more records with organisers announcing that 1.8% of the UK adult population – more than one million people – have applied to run in next year’s race.Running’s boom wasreflected in a world record 1,338,544 global application for the 2027 London Marathon – up from 1.13m for this year’s race and more than double the amount they received in 2024.The extraordinary figures were welcomed by the London Marathon CEO, Hugh Brasher, who said: “This astonishing total of more than 1
Mercedes may have won again but Miami upgrades have shaken up the F1 grid | Giles Richards
RFU backs Steve Borthwick to lead England for 2027 World Cup after Six Nations review
The Breakdown | Rugby needs to stop the screen-obsessed, finger-pointing, hair-trigger arguments
Carlton fined $75,000 for mishandling of Elijah Hollands’ mental health episode
‘English cricketers don’t always have that fight’: Simon Harmer on lessons from a decade in county game
These are the questions I would ask the Enhanced Games … if they would let me | Sean Ingle