Emma Raducanu has announced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open as she continues to manage a persistent back injury. The 22-year-old British tennis star, who is set to regain her status as British number one on Monday, has been struggling with the issue since her participation in Strasbourg last month, leading up to the French Open.

Raducanu, the former US Open champion, took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss to Zheng Qinwen at Queen's on Friday. She expressed her concerns about the injury, stating, "It's been lingering for the last few weeks, and I have had back issues before. It's just a vulnerability of mine. I know I need to take good care of it."

She emphasized the need for proper management of her back, saying, "I need to let the back rest. [It] needs proper and careful management." Raducanu had initially opted to play in Berlin rather than Nottingham after being offered a wildcard for the WTA 500 event, which is set to feature nine of the world's top 10 female players.

With the WTA rankings set to be updated, Raducanu will leapfrog Katie Boulter to reclaim her position as British number one. The upcoming Eastbourne tournament, scheduled from 23-28 June, and Wimbledon, starting on 30 June, are crucial events in the tennis calendar. Raducanu had a significant performance at Eastbourne last year, where she defeated Jessica Pegula to claim her first win over a top-10 player, before reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Raducanu's withdrawal from the Berlin Open raises questions about her readiness for the upcoming grass-court season, particularly with Wimbledon just around the corner. Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring her recovery and preparation as she aims to make a strong comeback on the court.