Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her leg, just before the tournament was set to begin. The 23-year-old announced her withdrawal late Sunday night, stating she had been advised to stop playing after a final scan revealed the injury had worsened.
Raducanu, the British No. 1, had been managing the leg issue for several weeks but participated in a practice session at the All England Club on Sunday. She had planned to play her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia. However, the injury forced her to pull out.
"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," Raducanu wrote on Instagram. "Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process."
Despite the setback, Raducanu was seen out on Monday evening with her boyfriend, John Friend, dining in Chelsea. She was pictured using crutches due to the leg injury but appeared to be in good spirits.
The couple's relationship became public last month when they were photographed together in Battersea Park. A tennis insider noted that Raducanu appears happier and more confident recently. Friend, who is nine years her senior, is the director of a public relations firm and a trustee for a cancer charity.
This withdrawal marks a disappointing end to Raducanu's grass-court season. She reached the final of the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club earlier in the month but appeared to be moving with difficulty, which led to her subsequent withdrawal from the Nottingham Open and Eastbourne tournaments.
Raducanu expressed her gratitude for the support she has received and looks forward to returning to play.
