Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon on the eve of her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic, with the British No. 1 confirming she has a stress fracture in her lower leg.
Injury Discovery and Withdrawal
The 23-year-old had been managing a "niggle" in her lower leg but underwent additional scans on Sunday evening, which confirmed a stress fracture. Raducanu did not train for four days earlier this week and was reportedly spotted wearing a protective boot on her right leg. She returned to practice for two sessions on Saturday but abandoned a practice set with Anna Kalinskaya 10 minutes prematurely while trailing 0-4, and delayed her press conference until Sunday.
She trained once more on Sunday morning and displayed modest signs of progress ahead of her press conference at 3:30 p.m. There, Raducanu stated she was doing everything within her power to be prepared for her opening encounter against Antonia Ruzic on Court 1 at 1 p.m. on Monday and remained intent on competing. However, the No. 30 seed confirmed her withdrawal shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday, approximately 15 hours before she was scheduled to step onto the court.
Emotional Statement
In a statement posted on social media, Raducanu wrote: "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."
Impact and Reactions
Raducanu's withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament and her fans, as she was scheduled to play on Court 1 in front of a home crowd. The British No. 1 had been working hard to recover but ultimately followed medical advice to avoid further injury. The development leaves a gap in the women's draw and raises questions about her fitness ahead of future events.
