Emma Raducanu pulls out of Wimbledon 2026 with stress fracture
British No. 1 Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2026 on the eve of the Championships after a final scan confirmed a stress fracture in her lower right leg. The 30th seed was due to open on Court One against Antonia Ruzic on Monday but was medically advised to stop pushing through the injury.
Raducanu announced the decision shortly after 22:00 BST on Sunday, roughly seven hours after telling journalists she still planned to play. Her late withdrawal removes one of Britain's biggest home hopes from the opening day of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Key Takeaways
- Raducanu withdrew on Sunday night after scans showed a stress fracture in her lower right leg.
- She was seeded 30th and scheduled to face Croatia's Antonia Ruzic in Monday's first match on Court One.
- A niggle managed since the clay-court season worsened after her run to the Queen's Club final.
- She was seen in a protective boot midweek and missed training on Thursday and Friday.
- It is her second Wimbledon absence in five years after a 2023 withdrawal during a long injury layoff.
Why did Emma Raducanu withdraw from Wimbledon?
In a statement shared on Sunday evening, Raducanu said she had done everything possible to reach the start line. A final scan that night showed the problem had progressed beyond a manageable niggle.
"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," she said. "I've been medically advised to stop pushing through."
Earlier on Sunday, she had told reporters at her pre-tournament press conference that she was doing everything she could to be ready. The Guardian reported she had been dealing with the issue since the end of the clay-court season, with the injury aggravated during her Queen's Club run.
What injury warnings appeared before the withdrawal?
Doubts built across the week. According to CLAY, Raducanu left Aorangi Park on Wednesday wearing a grey orthopaedic boot on her right leg. The BBC reported she then missed training on Thursday and Friday because of what is believed to be a shin problem.
She returned Saturday for a gentle hour-long session, then cut short a practice set against Anna Kalinskaya with about 10 minutes remaining. Sunday brought a more upbeat hour with hitting partner Alexis Canter, but the session involved limited movement and no points play.
By Sunday afternoon, Raducanu said she was willing to accept more risk to play in front of a home crowd. Hours later, medical advice ended that hope. As major sports stories ripple through digital coverage, readers following broader trends can explore more in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
How significant is this setback for Raducanu?
For the 23-year-old 2021 US Open champion, missing Wimbledon stings deeply. "Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process," she said.
The BBC noted she reached the fourth round in 2021 and 2024, and her Queen's final this month had raised optimism after a disrupted season. Bone bruising limited her off-season work, a virus kept her sidelined for much of February, and she played only six matches between early February and Queen's, per BBC reporting.
The Guardian highlighted this as her second Wimbledon withdrawal in five years, following her 2023 absence during an eight-month layoff after wrist and ankle surgery. For full details, see the BBC Sport report.