Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon hours before her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic, after a scan confirmed a stress fracture in her lower leg. The British No. 1, seeded 30th, announced the devastating news late Sunday evening, approximately 15 hours before she was scheduled to play on Court 1.
Raducanu, 23, had been managing a "niggle" in her lower leg since the clay court season. After missing four days of training earlier in the week and being spotted wearing a protective boot on her right leg, she practiced on Saturday and Sunday but struggled. During a practice set with Anna Kalinskaya on Saturday, she stopped after 10 minutes while trailing 0-4. She delayed her Sunday press conference until 3:30 p.m., where she expressed hope of competing, but further scans that evening revealed the stress fracture.
Statement from Raducanu
In a statement posted on social media, Raducanu said: "Hi everyone, I can't believe I'm saying this, but sadly I've had to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon. I've done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I've been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I've been medically advised to stop pushing through. Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. Especially at a time like this, it is invaluable. I look forward to seeing you when I'm back."
This marks Raducanu's first Wimbledon absence in three years, following surgeries on both wrists and an ankle in 2023. She had played in each of the last eight Grand Slams since skipping the 2024 French Open to focus on fitness.
Challenging Year Continues
Raducanu's 2026 season has been plagued by injuries and illness. A foot injury disrupted her pre-season, and she contracted an illness during her run to the Transylvania Open final in February, which persisted through tournaments in the Middle East and Indian Wells. The post-viral condition sidelined her for over two months. She returned in May but suffered first-round exits at the Strasbourg International and the French Open. However, she showed promising form by reaching the final at London's Queen's Club earlier this month, winning five matches. She acknowledged that the increased load likely aggravated her leg issue.
"I have a lower-leg niggle that I've been dealing with since before Queen's, actually, from the back end of the clay court season. I've been managing it," Raducanu said before the final scan. "I think it's something that I'd say recently has probably, after Queen's, maybe, during that week, been a lot of load for me. Five matches after having not competed for a while, I think it was just a lot of load."
Impact on US Open and Future
The withdrawal raises questions about Raducanu's participation in the US Open, which begins in late August and marks the fifth anniversary of her 2021 title. She is currently ranked world No. 32. The stress fracture could require a recovery period, potentially jeopardizing her chances of competing in the year's final Grand Slam. Raducanu's team will assess the injury and determine a rehabilitation plan.
Wimbledon begins Monday, with Raducanu's absence a significant blow to British hopes. The tournament continues with other home favorites, but Raducanu's star power and 2021 US Open victory had made her a key attraction.
