Emma Raducanu has raised serious concerns over her Wimbledon prospects after cutting short a practice session and cancelling media commitments. The British No. 1 had two training sessions booked on Saturday — first hitting at Aorangi Park before playing a practice set with Anna Kalinskaya on Court 3. However, Raducanu found herself 4-0 down before signalling to bring things to an end, leaving the court around 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Kalinskaya carried on with her own drills.
Injury Concerns Mount
This follows reports that the 23-year-old had been spotted wearing a protective boot earlier in the week. These were her first on-site practice sessions since Monday, and her right ankle was strapped up throughout both. Raducanu had been due to speak to the media on Saturday afternoon at the All England Club. Yet roughly 20 minutes after departing that practice session, her press conference was called off and rearranged for Sunday.
The former US Open champion was accompanied at both sessions by coach Andrew Richardson, hitting partner Alexis Canter, physiotherapist Emma Stewart and close friend and mentor Jane O'Donoghue.
First Round Opponent Awaits
The No. 30 seed has been drawn against world No. 60 Antonia Ruzic in the first round, with their match scheduled as the opening contest at 1pm on Court 1 on Monday — approximately 48 hours after that curtailed training session. Raducanu is believed to have been nursing a niggle following her recent run to the Queen's final. The 23-year-old spent over two months on the sidelines with a post-viral illness before returning to the tour in May, where she lost two matches on clay.
She then finished runner-up at the WTA 500 event at London's Queen's Club earlier this month. Due to rain delays, Raducanu played three matches in the space of 28 hours, a considerable increase in workload after spending months sidelined. Raducanu withdrew from the Nottingham Open the following week, citing a change in schedule. She also opted against taking a wildcard into this week's Eastbourne Open, choosing instead to use the time to prepare ahead of Wimbledon.
Uncertainty Over Fitness
However, she failed to train at the All England Club for four days. It currently remains unclear when the 30th seed will speak on Sunday or whether she intends to practise beforehand. Should Raducanu prove fit to face Ruzic on Monday afternoon, the challenges won't ease up. She will likely come up against 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko — also a former semi-finalist here — in the second round. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka could then be lying in wait in the third round. The four-time Major champion defeated the British star at the same stage here last year.
