U.S. Open champ Emma Raducanu is out of Monterrey event with injury

U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu continues to endure a difficult start to 2022. 

The British No. 1 fell to Danka Kovinic in the second round of the Australian Open and then retired in the last set of a match versus Daria Saville held in Guadalajara earlier this week because of what's been described as a minor left leg injury. 

Per Sky Sports, that issue has caused the 19-year-old to pull out of next week's WTA event in Monterrey. 

Raducanu's showdown with Saville lasted more than three and a half hours and, according to Russell Fuller of BBC Sport, was the longest match on the WTA Tour this season, to date. As of Friday evening, Raducanu remains on track to participate in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and will receive a first-round bye for that tournament that will schedule her next competitive match for either March 11 or March 12. 

Raducanu's preparations for the Australian Open were affected after she tested positive for COVID-19 in December, and she then played through a painful blister on her right hand during the loss to Kovinic. If that wasn't enough, she received criticism from all-time great John McEnroe last month for changing coaches following her U.S. Open victory.