Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Wimbledon Championships due to a stress fracture in her leg, just days before the tournament was set to begin. The 23-year-old British No. 1 announced her withdrawal late Sunday night, stating that she had done "everything possible" to be ready but medical advice necessitated her stopping.
Raducanu had been managing a lower leg issue for several weeks and practiced at the All England Club on Sunday. She was scheduled to play her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but sadly I've had to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon," Raducanu wrote on Instagram. "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 expressed her disappointment, adding, "Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process." She thanked her supporters and looked forward to returning. This setback marks a disappointing end to her grass-court season, which had shown promise.
Earlier in July, Raducanu reached the final of the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club, her third career final, where she was defeated by Donna Vekic. During that match, she appeared to be moving with difficulty, a sign that foreshadowed subsequent issues. She later withdrew from the Nottingham Open and declined an opportunity to play in Eastbourne.
On Monday evening, Raducanu was seen in Chelsea with her boyfriend, John Friend. She was photographed using crutches to support her leg but appeared to be in good spirits during their dinner outing. The couple's relationship became public last month when they were seen together in Battersea Park.
Friend, who is nine years older than Raducanu, grew up in London and attended Harrow School. He is the director of a public relations firm and a trustee for a cancer charity. Raducanu previously dated Carlo Agostinelli, who also attended Harrow School. She has previously stated that her parents were against her having boyfriends, as they felt it interfered with her training.