Emma Raducanu could pull out of Wimbledon today as Brit’s troubles explained | Tennis | Sport
Emma Raducanu has sparked major concerns about her participation at Wimbledon after cutting a practice session short. She could pull out today, 24 hours before the tournament gets underway, due to fitness issues. 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. 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 today.
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.
But there are now serious questions about whether she will be ready to take the court. Raducanu, 23, is expected to practice again this morning. But British No.2 Katie Boulter has reminded Raducanu that she has another decade to compete at Wimbledon.
The world No. 59 said: “I completely trust her and her team will make the right decision no matter what. I think that’s something that she’s always been really good at.
“I think in the moment, at that time, she will know what’s best for her. Obviously, don’t want to ever see a British player come out of their home Slam. I don’t want to see that. I’ve been there, done that, don’t want to see it.
“It’s not a nice feeling for anyone. I hope she’s absolutely fine. I really do. And if she’s not, she’s going to be here another 10 years, so she’s going to have every single year to play. I’m always right behind Emma. I hope she’s okay.”
Raducanu is understood to have been managing a niggle following her recent run to the Queen’s final. The Brit 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.
The world No.32 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 until yesterday’s attempt. She has scheduled a practice on Sunday for 11am.
