Raducanu Plans to Play Wimbledon Despite Shin Injury
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- Emma Raducanu told reporters at the All England Club on Sunday that she 'plans to play' her Wimbledon first-round match against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court One at 13:00 BST Monday, despite uncertainty over her fitness
- Raducanu described the shin problem as a 'niggle' she has managed for about a month and suggested five matches at Queen's may have been too much load after a long competitive layoff
- Raducanu was spotted wearing a protective boot on Wednesday, skipped training Thursday and Friday, then returned Saturday for a gentle hour-long session before cutting a practice set with Russia's Anna Kalinskaya short by 10 minutes
- Raducanu's 2026 season was already disrupted by a viral illness that limited her to just six matches between early February and the start of Queen's earlier this month
- Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion seeded 30th, reached the Wimbledon fourth round in 2021 and 2024 and reached the Queen's final this month, boosting expectations before the latest setback
Why it matters: Raducanu, 23, is Britain's top-ranked women's player and a major draw at the All England Club, with her game well-suited to grass and a track record of fourth-round runs at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2024 — making her potential withdrawal a significant loss for home crowds and tournament interest on Court One.
