Raducanu withdraws from Miami Open

Britain’s Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Miami Open on the eve of her first-round match due to a lower back injury, tournament organisers said.
The former US Open champion, who was scheduled to face China’s Wang Xiyu in the first round on the opening day of play on Tuesday, missed most of last season after having surgeries on her ankle and both wrists.
“I have been experiencing lower back pain and at this stage of my return to competition I don’t want to risk anything happening,” Raducanu said in a statement issued late on Monday by tournament organisers.
“I really tried my best to be ready and I’m sad to be pulling out of Miami as it’s a cool tournament but wish the event all the best.”
The 21-year-old received a wildcard into the main draw at the Miami Open and was looking to build on her performance at Indian Wells, where she played well but lost in the third round to world number two Aryna Sabalenka last week. Raducanu, who in 2021 became the first qualifier to win the US Open, is scheduled to play in Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against France next month. Wang will now face qualifier Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia.
Shnaider defeats Venus in opener
Diana Shnaider on Tuesday ended Venus Williams’s record 22nd Miami Open appearance in the first round, defeating the three-time champion 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 19 minutes.
The contest was one of many contrasts. Williams, 43, is the oldest player in the 2024 main draw; Shnaider, 19, is one of six teenagers contesting it this year.
Williams was playing her 85th main-draw match in Miami, another tournament record (this time, joint with sister Serena); Shnaider was playing her first, having fallen in the first round of qualifying to Laura Siegemund on her debut last year. But although Williams had the upper hand in terms of the gulf in experience, No.62-ranked Shnaider had the edge in form.
She claimed her first Hologic WTA Tour title last month in Hua Hin, and reached the Charleston WTA 125 final last week. By contrast, Williams was playing just her second tournament of the year following a seven-month injury layoff, and is ranked No.457.
She fell in the first round of Indian Wells to Nao Hibino a fortnight ago, and has not won a match since defeating Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of Cincinnati last August.