All England Club CEO Sally Bolton described Emma Raducanu's late withdrawal from Wimbledon as 'devastating', sending well-wishes to the British No. 1 after a stress fracture forced her out.
Last-Minute Withdrawal
Raducanu pulled out around 15 hours before her scheduled first-round match against Antonia Ruzic on Court 1. The 2021 US Open winner had been managing a 'lower leg niggle' but a scan on Sunday evening confirmed it had developed into a stress fracture, and she was 'medically advised to stop pushing through'.
Lucky loser Darja Semenistaja replaced Raducanu in the draw. The No. 30 seed's match was set to open play on Court 1 at 1pm, now replaced by Jelena Ostapenko versus British No. 5 Harriet Dart.
Bolton's Reaction
'I mean, it's so devastating for a player to have to withdraw the night before a Grand Slam, and particularly for your home Grand Slam. I think the first thing to say is that, terribly sorry for Emma, and we wish her all the best of luck in her recovery,' Bolton said on day one. 'Really look forward to seeing her back on the court again, and, of course, back here next year. It is devastating.'
Bolton highlighted that 20 Brits remain in the singles draws, with 11 competing on day one. 'For us, I suppose, the good thing to look forward to is we've got lots of Brits competing. ... So if you're here to watch the Brits on court, there's still lots to see, but terribly sad news for Emma.'
Raducanu's Statement
Raducanu had not practiced on-site for four days and was seen wearing a protective boot on her right leg. She returned to training over the weekend with strapping on her right ankle. On Sunday afternoon, she said she planned to compete, but seven hours later announced her withdrawal.
'Hi everyone, I can't believe I'm saying this, but sadly I've had to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon,' Raducanu wrote. '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.'
