Emma Raducanu quits Wimbledon practice and cancels press conference hours before match | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu has sparked major fears over her Wimbledon participation after cutting a practice session short. The British No. 1 booked two training sessions on Saturday – first hitting at Aorangi Park before playing a practice set with Anna Kalinskaya on Court 3.

But Raducanu went 4-0 down and then gestured to cut things off, leaving the court around 10 minutes early. Kalinskaya continued with her own drills. It comes after reports that the 23-year-old had been seen wearing a protective boot earlier this week. These were her first on-site practice sessions since Monday, and her right ankle was strapped up during both.

Raducanu was due to address the media later on Saturday afternoon at the All England Club. But about 20 minutes after leaving that practice session, her press conference was cancelled and rescheduled for Sunday.

The former US Open champion was joined at both sessions by coach Andrew Richardson, hitting partner Alexis Canter, physiotherapist Emma Stewart, and good friend and mentor Jane O’Donoghue.

The No. 30 seed has drawn world No. 60 Antonia Ruzic in round one, and they have been scheduled in the first match slot at 1pm on Court 1 on Monday, roughly 48 hours after that shortened training session.

Raducanu is understood to have been managing a niggle following her recent run to the Queen’s final. The 23-year-old spent more than two months sidelined by post-viral illness and returned to the tour in May, losing two clay matches.

She then finished runner-up at the WTA 500 event at London’s Queen’s Club earlier this month. Due to rain delays, Raducanu played three matches in the space of 28 hours, a big increase in load after spending months out of action.

Raducanu pulled out of the Nottingham Open the following week, citing a change in schedule. And she did not take a wildcard into this week’s Eastbourne Open in favour of a practice week ahead of Wimbledon. However, she did not train at the All England Club for four days.

It is currently unknown when the 30th seed will speak on Sunday or whether she plans to practice beforehand.

Should Raducanu be ready to face Ruzic on Monday afternoon, things won’t get any easier. She will likely play 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko – also a former semi-finalist here – in round two. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka could be waiting in the third round. The four-time Major champion beat the Brit at the same stage here last year.

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