Emma Raducanu injury fears sparked in update days before Wimbledon | Tennis | Sport

It was a welcome boost for the Brit, who, before Queen’s, hadn’t won a match since early March. However, ahead of a home Grand Slam, the 2021 US Open champion appears to be struggling with yet another fitness concern.

The report comes from tennis outlet CLAY, who state Raducanu didn’t train on Wednesday amid fears surrounding an injury problem. They state she was spotted wearing a boot, which could hamper her progress at SW19.

However, a representative speaking to the outlet insisted she was fine and would be training on Thursday. It’s just as well, given Raducanu is defending a third-round appearance from last year at Wimbledon – points which are crucial to her current ranking at world No.32.

An injury lay-off throughout the spring saw Raducanu tumble down the rankings, but the exploits at Queen’s have boosted her position. Commenting on her chances, former coach Mark Petchey explained: “I love Emma to bits.

“I’ll take a bullet for her. I think her situation is so unique. I don’t envy her life, being judged every single week on a result that happened five years ago, that was an amazing story, was an absolute fairy tale. She’s a hell of a tennis player. But it’s challenging because, if you don’t win another one, it’s deemed a sub-optimal outcome.”

Before adding: “And I think, for her, it’s been a very hard process to grow up as an 18-year-old, in the glare of the spotlight, with everything that came – everyone would have done the same, but they say they wouldn’t have done the same. That’s the thing that I find really hard, the cognitive dissonance from people.

“She can win another one for sure, I’ve always believed that about her. If she can find a way to just do the ordinary in an extraordinary way, every single day, and not look for a shortcut back to where she was in ’21, she’ll be fine.”

Raducanu and the rest of her competitors will find out their Wimbledon paths on Friday morning when the draw is made.