Just two days before her opening match at Wimbledon, British No 1 Emma Raducanu cut short a practice session, cancelled her media duties, and left the All England Club with her right ankle heavily strapped. For a player who has spent more time sidelined than on court since her stunning US Open victory, the scene felt painfully familiar.
Emma Raducanu is the top-ranked British women's tennis player and the 30th seed at Wimbledon. She was scheduled to face Antonia Ruzic, a Croatian ranked No 60 in the world, on Monday 29 June at 1pm on No 1 Court. But on Saturday 27 June, she ended a practice set early after struggling to push off her right ankle, and her pre-tournament press conference was pushed back to Sunday. Raducanu had already missed training on Thursday and Friday after being seen leaving the venue wearing a medical boot on her right foot, having been managing a right foot injury since the final of Queen's Club.
“Explains Emma Raducanu's recurring injury problems and her Wimbledon fitness doubts.”
This is the latest chapter in a turbulent period for Raducanu, who burst onto the scene by winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. Since then, her career has been repeatedly interrupted by physical problems. She was sidelined for most of the 2025/26 off-season with a foot injury. In February 2026 she struggled with a virus, and between March and May she was forced off court for two months due to a post-viral illness. When she began the grass-court season this year, she was searching for her first win in three years — a drought that made her run to the final at Queen's Club all the more remarkable. But that success has been followed by yet another injury scare.
For UK readers, Raducanu's fitness is a constant source of anxiety. As British No 1, she carries the hopes of home fans at Wimbledon — the country's biggest tennis event. Every withdrawal or injury worry dominates headlines and raises questions about her long-term future. The pattern of setbacks has also prevented her from building the consistent results needed to climb the rankings and challenge for titles. For casual fans, her ongoing battle to stay on court can overshadow her obvious talent.
Q: What injury is Emma Raducanu dealing with? Raducanu has been managing a right foot injury that dates back to her run to the final at Queen's Club. She was later spotted wearing a medical boot, and on Saturday her right ankle was heavily taped. She struggled to push off that ankle during a practice set.
Q: Has she withdrawn from Wimbledon? As of the latest reports, Raducanu has not withdrawn. She was scheduled to play her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic on Monday 29 June. However, her training disruption and cancelled media duties raise doubts about whether she will be fit to compete.
Q: Why does Emma Raducanu get injured so often? The sources note a series of health problems: a foot injury that cost most of the off-season, a virus in February, and a two-month post-viral illness between March and May. The pattern has left her with little uninterrupted training time, and she struggled to win a match for three years before Queen's Club.
What happens next is uncertain. Raducanu is due to hold her pre-tournament press conference on Sunday. If she feels unable to play, she must withdraw before her match to be replaced by a lucky loser from qualifying. The All England Club will await a final decision, while UK tennis fans hold their breath.