Emma Raducanu has pulled out of her latest scheduled tournament with another ailment, this time catching tonsillitis.

The former US Open champion was due to play in this week’s ATX Open in Austin, Texas, in what would have been her first event since losing to Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open more than a month ago.

However, before the draw was made she pulled out, meaning that she will arrive in March having played only two tournaments so far this season. 

‘I’m sorry to have to withdraw from the ATX Open,’ she said. ‘I am currently suffering from tonsillitis and an unable to compete this week. Thank you to the tournament and the great hospitality here in Austin.’

According to her management she will stay there to recover from the illness and then head on to Indian Wells in California and then Miami.

Raducanu attended a Vogue/Tiffany party last weekend before heading early to Texas to prepare, having spent most of the month training and practising at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

This is another blow to the 20 year-old, whose stated aim this season is to stay fit and giver herself the chance to compete consistently. Her lack of physical robustness continues to be an issue as she struggles to improve a current ranking of 81.

So far this year she has managed to play just the ASB Classic in Auckland, which saw another retirement when she hurt her ankle in the second round. She competed well against seventh seeded Gauff in the season’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne, but went down 6-3 7-6.

Cam Norrie is this evening due to play his second consecutive final against US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz when they meet at the Rio Open in Brazil. Norrie downed Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2 3-6 7-6 late on Saturday evening.