Emma Raducanu is a growing doubt for Wimbledon after failing to appear for a scheduled practice session and being observed wearing a protective boot on her right foot. The British No. 1 missed her noon practice slot on Thursday at Aorangi Park, the day after she was reportedly seen leaving the All England Club in an orthopedic boot.
While Daily Mail Sport understands Raducanu is managing a "niggle," the boot and the missed practice session have raised concerns just four days before the tournament begins. Raducanu had hit at Wimbledon on Monday but did not have a scheduled practice on Tuesday or Wednesday. It remains a possibility she practiced elsewhere or may still appear later on Thursday.
Recent Form and Previous Withdrawals
Raducanu's grass-court season began promisingly with a run to the final of the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club, where she lost to Donna Vekic. However, she did not appear at her physical best during that match, stating she had been dealing with "a few niggles over the past few weeks." This led to her withdrawing from last week's Nottingham tournament and declining a wildcard invitation for this week's Eastbourne Open.
Her season has been significantly impacted by a viral illness, with fewer than 16 matches played prior to her Queen's Club performance. The rehiring of coach Andrew Richardson, who guided her to the 2021 US Open title, and her strong showings at Queen's had raised expectations for Wimbledon, where she is seeded ahead of Friday's draw.