Emma Raducanu raises fitness concerns ahead of Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu has raised fresh concerns over her fitness ahead of Wimbledon after requiring treatment during a practice session at the All England Club, reports BritPanorama.
The British No 1 returned to the practice courts on Saturday for the first time since Monday, as she continues to manage a lower leg issue that has troubled her since reaching the final at Queen’s earlier this month. Raducanu had not appeared on Wimbledon’s official practice schedule throughout the week and was seen leaving the grounds wearing a protective boot on her right foot on Wednesday evening.
While that did not necessarily indicate a complete halt to her practice, her limited time on the court has raised fears regarding her physical condition. During the training session, the 23-year-old was accompanied by coach Andrew Richardson, hitting partner Alexis Canter, former coach and close friend Jane O’Donoghue, and physiotherapist Emma Stewart.
Raducanu struck the ball cleanly and showed glimpses of the form that carried her through a strong grass-court campaign. However, she did not appear to move with total freedom and seemed hesitant at times to fully bend her knees when attempting to chase down shots. Midway through the practice, she took a break to receive treatment from Stewart before returning to the court.
The former US Open champion had an encouraging run earlier this month at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, reaching the final where she lost to Donna Vekic 6-0, 7-6. After the match, she revealed that she had been managing minor issues for several weeks, which led to her withdrawal from the Nottingham Open and her decision to decline a wildcard for this week’s Eastbourne Open.
Raducanu’s 2026 season has already been marked by significant disruptions, with illness compounding her injury concerns. Prior to her run to the Queen’s final, she had only participated in 16 matches this year. Nevertheless, her standout performances in London and her reunion with Richardson, the coach who led her to her remarkable US Open victory in 2021, have generated optimism entering Wimbledon.
As the Championships approach, Raducanu and her team will be hoping for no further setbacks as she aims to build on her recent resurgence. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether she can translate her previous success into a strong showing this year.
