Stress fracture forces Raducanu to withdraw from Wimbledon
New Delhi, June 29
The British No. 1 Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her lower leg. Raducanu, who had been managing a lower leg issue, announced her withdrawal 12 hours before her first-round match against Croatian Antonia Ruzic.
She had been dealing with what she described as a "niggle" in her lower leg since reaching the final at the Queen's Championships earlier this month -- her second final on the WTA Tour this year. In a statement posted to social media confirming her withdrawal, the 23-year-old said she has been advised to stop pushing through after the niggle developed into a stress fracture.
"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, 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," she posted on her Instagram story section.
Concerns about the 2021 US Open champion's readiness to compete at Wimbledon grew over the past week, beginning when Raducanu was spotted wearing a protective boot on Wednesday. She returned to the court on Saturday to test her fitness and wore strapping on her lower right leg in a training session with her team. She later cut a practice session with Anna Kalinskaya short.
The stress fracture is the latest in a list of physical problems for Raducanu this season. She could not train properly for most of the off-season due to another foot injury, then struggled with a virus for much of February.
Raducanu then missed WTA 1000 events in Miami, Madrid and Rome due to lingering concerns from the illness, and confirmed she had been dealing with the leg problem since the end of the clay-court swing.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is the harsh reality of professional sports. 🇮🇳 We in India see this with some of our own athletes too—pushing through pain can lead to bigger problems. Raducanu needs to focus on long-term recovery rather than rushing back. The mental pressure must be immense, especially for Wimbledon in front of home fans. Get well soon, Emma!
Yaar, it's really unfortunate. 😔 I was looking forward to watching her play at Wimbledon. But honestly, Team Raducanu needs to be smarter with her schedule. She's had too many niggles this season. Sometimes players push too hard, and it backfires. Hope this doesn't become a recurring issue. She's still young and has potential.
Honestly, this is heartbreaking. 💔 She gave us hope at US Open, but injuries keep derailing her. I think she needs a proper break—maybe skip the next few tournaments and let the body heal fully. Indian fans are with you, Emma! 🇮🇳
Stress fractures are no joke! 🥴 I had one in my foot once (not as a pro athlete, but still), and it took months to heal. She's smart to withdraw rather than risk permanent damage. The British media puts so much pressure on her, which doesn't help. Focus on healing, Emma—Wimbledon will be there next year. 🙏
Sad news, but I have to say—her management team needs to take a hard look at her training and recovery protocols. This is the fourth or fifth injury in
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