Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her foot, a devastating blow for the 23-year-old British star. The announcement came on Sunday evening, just hours before she was scheduled to begin her campaign at the All England Club.
Late withdrawal shocks fans
Raducanu was due to face Antonia Ruzic at 1pm on Monday and had been hopeful of managing the nagging injury through the match. However, the problem worsened, leaving her with no choice but to pull out of her home Grand Slam. In an Instagram post on Sunday, she 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.'
She added: '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.'
Last-minute decision
The withdrawal came as a surprise, as Raducanu had indicated earlier on Sunday that she planned to play. After a practice session that seemed encouraging, she told reporters: 'I’m going to do everything with my team in terms of treatment. The plan right now is to play.' She acknowledged the challenge, saying: 'I’ve been managing it. Queen’s, maybe, was a lot of load for me. Five matches after having not competed for a while, it was just a lot. But I’m just managing it with my team as best as I possibly can, exhausting all options and doing what we can.'
Raducanu’s absence is a significant blow to the tournament, as she is a former US Open champion and a fan favorite. The stress fracture will require rest and rehabilitation, with no clear timeline for her return. She expressed hope to be back on court soon, but the immediate focus is on recovery.
