New Delhi, June 29: Britain’s top player Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her lower leg. She announced her decision just 12 hours before her first-round match against Croatia’s Antonia Ružič.
Raducanu has been struggling with a minor injury in her lower leg since reaching the finals of the Queens Championship earlier this month. This was her second final on the WTA Tour this year. In a statement posted on social media confirming her withdrawal, the 23-year-old athlete mentioned that she had been advised not to continue in the tournament as her minor injury had developed into a stress fracture.
In an Instagram story, she expressed, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but unfortunately, I have to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon. I tried my best to reach the starting line, but after tonight’s final scan, the minor injury I was managing has turned into a stress fracture, and I’ve been medically advised not to play with this injury. Playing in front of a home crowd at Wimbledon means everything to me, so it’s really hard to understand.”
Questions about Raducanu’s participation in Wimbledon had been raised since last week. On Wednesday, she was seen wearing a protective boot for her foot, raising concerns about her injury. On Saturday, she practiced on the court to assess her fitness, during which she had strapping on her right lower leg. Although she practiced with her team for a while, she later abandoned a practice session with Russian player Anna Kalinskaya, indicating that she was not fully fit.
The stress fracture adds to a growing list of injuries that Raducanu has faced this season. Previously, she had dealt with several fitness issues throughout the season. During the off-season, she suffered another injury to her foot, which hindered her training. In February, she also struggled with a prolonged viral infection. Due to her illness and fitness concerns, Raducanu missed the WTA 1000 tournaments in Miami, Madrid, and Rome. She later revealed that she had been experiencing persistent pain in her foot since the end of the clay-court season.
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My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.