Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after a scan revealed a stress fracture in her right lower leg, just hours after she had expressed her intention to play. The 2021 US Open champion, seeded 30th, announced the news on social media on Sunday evening, stating that she had been medically advised to stop pushing through the injury.
Raducanu had been managing a right lower leg problem since her run to the Queen's final earlier in June. She missed training on Thursday and Friday, and her practice session with Russia's Anna Kalinskaya on Saturday was cut short by 10 minutes. The stress fracture diagnosis came after a final scan on Sunday.
In her statement, 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."
The official Wimbledon account responded on X, saying: "We're so sorry to hear your news, @EmmaRaducanu - get better soon."
Career Plagued by Injuries
This is not the first time Raducanu has been sidelined at Wimbledon. In 2021, she withdrew from her fourth-round singles match against Ajla Tomljanovic due to breathing difficulties and dizziness. In 2023, she missed the entire grass-court season after undergoing three operations in May 2023 to remove bone spurs and treat injuries to both wrists and her left ankle, which kept her out for eight months.
Reflecting on that period during her 2024 pre-championship press conference, Raducanu said: "It was really hard walking through the player tunnel and seeing your peers going to practice and playing their matches. It really stung and it wasn't nice. I didn't really watch any of the tennis either."
Retirement Plans and Post-Tennis Ambitions
The latest setback has reignited debate about Raducanu's long-term future. The 23-year-old recently admitted she may have fewer than 10 years remaining at the top level of the sport. When asked where she saw herself in a decade, she said: "I'll probably be retiring and hopefully proud of the career I've had in tennis, but also extremely excited for another career. I know tennis is one chapter of my life, and it's such a huge part of my current identity, but I have a lot more than just tennis ahead of me. I can't wait to delve into another chapter, and to think that my life really starts in my thirties is exciting, even though I will have had a whole tennis career by then."
Raducanu has previously stated she cannot see herself playing into her 40s like Serena Williams, and has hinted at a career in banking, claiming she would be working in finance if she had not become a professional player.
Impact of Wimbledon Withdrawal
Raducanu's absence from Wimbledon for the second time in four years is a devastating blow, especially given the short time she had to prepare. The British No.1 had generated mounting excitement ahead of the tournament, with hopes she could surpass her third-round performance from last year. However, her recurring injury problems continue to hinder her progress.
Raducanu shot to fame by winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier at age 18, but her career since has been marked by setbacks and relentless injuries. Her latest stress fracture will require recovery time, and it remains unclear when she will return to competitive action.
