Wimbledon 2026 was dealt a devastating blow as British No.1 Emma Raducanu was forced to withdraw from the Championships just hours before she was set to take to the court. The 23-year-old, who was seeded 30th, had been scheduled to open play on No.1 Court against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic .
The news of her withdrawal sent shockwaves through the All England Club, and what followed was an outpouring of emotion from the British star, who shared a deeply personal and tearful message with her fans, revealing the extent of her heartbreak and the difficult decision she was forced to make .
In a shocking turn of events, Raducanu’s decision came just 15 hours before her first-round match . Earlier that Sunday, she had told journalists in a press conference that she planned to play, stating she was willing to push through the pain for Wimbledon . However, a final scan on Sunday evening revealed a devastating diagnosis: the persistent “niggle” in her lower right leg had developed into a stress fracture . Following the scan results, Raducanu’s medical team intervened, advising her to stop pushing through the pain to prevent long-term career damage .
It was a decision she did not want to make but ultimately had to accept.
Taking to social media late on Sunday night, Raducanu shared a statement that broke the hearts of tennis fans everywhere. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but sadly I’ve had to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon,” she began, her words heavy with emotion . She explained that she had done everything possible to try to get to the start line. “Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process,” she wrote, expressing the deep disappointment of missing her home Grand Slam .
She ended her message with gratitude, thanking her supporters for their invaluable encouragement during this challenging time .
The injury had been a growing concern throughout the week, with Raducanu managing a “lower-leg niggle” since the end of the clay-court season . The situation worsened after her grueling run to the final at Queen’s Club, where she played five demanding matches in six days, the most she had played since February . Concerns heightened when she was spotted wearing a protective boot on her right leg and was unable to train on Thursday and Friday .
A return to practice on Saturday showed signs of tentativeness, and she was forced to cut a session short, fueling speculation that her participation was in serious doubt .1
Raducanu’s press conference on Sunday afternoon revealed her sheer desperation to compete. She admitted that Wimbledon was one of the few tournaments where she was willing to “put yourself on the line more for, risk more for” . She said, “I probably pushed beyond anything that I would for any other tournament. That’s a fact,” underlining her deep connection to the event . Speaking about the risk of making the injury worse, she stated, “I don’t think anyone can tell me I’m not going to make it worse.
I just have to be aware of the risks I’m taking stepping out on to the court, weighing up if I’m willing to do that” .
Sources close to the player have revealed the immense mental toll this latest setback has taken. This is the fifth time since the start of 2023 that Raducanu has had to miss a Grand Slam due to injury . An insider revealed that the injury and the timing of it have been incredibly difficult for Raducanu. She has had to deal with so many physical setbacks in her short career, and the frustration is immense .
After a promising run at Queen’s that bred confidence, the news of a stress fracture is a devastating psychological blow, especially after she expressed the resilience required to keep pushing forward .
In her tearful announcement, Raducanu’s words carried the weight of a difficult season that had just begun to turn a corner. The former US Open champion has had a tough start to 2026, dealing with a post-viral illness that limited her to just six matches from February to the start of Queen’s . Just as she looked to have found form and confidence under coach Andrew Richardson, her body has let her down once again .
The revelation of the stress fracture is a bitter pill to swallow, as she now faces an uncertain period of recovery, with her participation in the North American hard-court swing now in doubt .
The news of Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal is a stark reminder of the fragility of a tennis player’s career. Since her fairytale US Open victory in 2021, her journey has been blighted by a series of injuries that have prevented her from building consistency on the tour . The stress fracture is the latest in a long list of physical issues, including bone bruising in her foot that cut her previous season short .
While her determination to compete at Wimbledon was admirable, the medical advice to withdraw was clear, and her focus will now shift to making a full recovery and attempting to return stronger .
