Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon 2026 due to a stress fracture in her lower right leg, as confirmed by BBC Breakfast on Monday morning. The British tennis sensation was scheduled to begin her campaign against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court One, but pulled out late on Sunday night after medical advice.
BBC Breakfast Reveals the News
During Monday's programme, presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent passed to John Watson at Wimbledon, who told viewers: "There will be a notable absentee with Britain's Emma Raducanu pulling out late last night on the eve of the tournament." He added: "She suffered another injury setback... She's got a stress fracture in her lower right leg. She announced that decision at 10 o'clock last night, just hours after telling a journalist that she planned to play. A big disappointment for her and all of those tennis fans."
Emma's Statement on Social Media
On Instagram, Raducanu shared an extensive statement: "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 and 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."
The 23-year-old thanked supporters and said she looks forward to seeing them upon her return. Wimbledon's official X account urged her to "get better soon," and fans flooded her with messages of support, with one commenting: "Stress fractures can be brutal. Speedy recovery."
Impact on Raducanu's Career
This setback is the latest in a series of injuries for Raducanu since her dramatic US Open victory five years ago. The withdrawal means she will miss the home Grand Slam, a tournament she has described as meaning "everything" to her. BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One weekdays from 6am.
