Emma Raducanu was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a right foot injury she suffered while preparing for the championships.
Raducanu, who was seeded 30th, was due to face Antonia Ruzic on Monday at 1pm on Court No. 1. In a statement, Raducanu said: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but unfortunately I have had to withdraw from Wimbledon this year.
“I did everything I could to try and get on the start line tomorrow, but after the final scan this evening my nervousness turned into a stress fracture and I was advised by doctors to stop pushing forward.
“Playing at Wimbledon in front of a home crowd means everything to me, so it’s really hard to wrap my head around it. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. Especially at a time like this, it’s invaluable. I look forward to seeing you when I get back.”
Earlier on Sunday, Raducanu said at a pre-tournament press conference that she was doing everything she could to be ready to play. It’s another extremely painful moment for the 23-year-old, who has struggled with physical problems throughout the season.
Raducanu was unable to train normally for most of the offseason due to foot problems, and then she battled a virus for most of February. She was then suspended for two months from March to May due to a post-viral illness. She said she had been dealing with the problem since the end of the clay-court season, but the injury had worsened since reaching the final of the Royal Club tournament earlier in the grass-court season.
Her superb performance at the Queen’s Club appears to have prepared her perfectly for Wimbledon. Instead, she has another injury. The British No. 1 has had to deal with many of them in her short career and that frustration boiled over after her first-round defeat in May at the French Open, where she fought back tears after being asked during a press conference about the mental difficulties of having to overcome so many physical challenges.
At Wimbledon, before her exit, Raducanu tried to maintain a positive attitude. “It was difficult,” she said. “I had a great week at Queen’s Club. All I want to do is continue to build on that momentum. I’ve had a rough start to the season, a lot of timeouts. It’s hard to hear and feel. I have great people around me – that’s the only thing that really helps with this latest setback. Having their support, they really have my back. It means a lot.”
After taking a break from training on Thursday and Friday, things weren’t looking good for Raducanu on Saturday when she ended her scheduled two-hour training session with Anna Kalinska early after struggling to fully exercise her heavily taped right leg. She returned to the court at Aorangi Park on Sunday and looked much more upbeat as she worked through an hour-long training session with her hitting partner Alexis Kanter. However, there wasn’t much movement or point play in this session.
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“It’s hard to wake up every day not knowing how everything will be,” Raducanu said. “Not knowing whether you’re inside or not causes a lot of uncertainty. All I can do is try my best every day. That’s what I do, whether it’s treatment or practice.
“I know I’m putting in my best every day. The people around me push me on the right path. It’s also important to maintain morale and a good mood. Even if you’re going through difficult times, I think it’s important to allow yourself to experience moments of joy when they come.”
This is the second time in the last five years that Raducanu has been unable to compete at Wimbledon. She was forced to withdraw from the 2023 tournament during an eight-month injury layoff following surgery on both wrists and ankle.