Raducanu Quits Wimbledon Practice Over Fitness Fears
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Emma Raducanu cut short her Saturday practice set against Russia's Anna Kalinskaya with 10 minutes remaining, losing four games before deciding she could not continue.
- Raducanu had not trained Thursday or Friday because of what is believed to be a shin problem, and returned to the Aorangi Park practice courts Saturday wearing strapping around her lower right leg.
- Raducanu cancelled her pre-tournament news conference scheduled for 16:00 BST on Saturday; Wimbledon organisers said her media duties would be rearranged for Sunday.
- Seeded 30th at the All England Club, Raducanu is scheduled to open her campaign on Monday at 13:00 BST on Court One against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic.
- The 2021 US Open champion recently reunited with coach Andrew Richardson, who guided her to that title, and reached the Queen's final in London before falling to Donna Vekic in straight sets.
- A viral illness earlier this season limited Raducanu to six matches from early February through Queen's, the latest in a string of injury setbacks since her New York triumph five years ago.
Why it matters: Raducanu's Monday 13:00 BST first-round match against Ruzic is now in jeopardy less than 48 hours out, and even if she takes the court, two missed training days and a cut-short practice hit leave her poorly prepared for the rigours of best-of-five Grand Slam tennis — a sharp reversal from the momentum of reaching the Queen's final.
