Emma Raducanu withdraws from Wimbledon due to injury
Emma Raducanu will still receive £40,000 from Wimbledon despite withdrawing from the tournament before hitting a ball, although her injury has cost her the chance to compete for millions more in prize money, reports BritPanorama.
The British No 1 confirmed on Sunday evening that she had pulled out of the Championships after a stress fracture ended her hopes of competing at the All England Club. Raducanu had been due to face Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic on Court One on Monday, but a final medical assessment necessitated the heartbreaking decision to withdraw.
The 23-year-old had been managing a problem in her right lower leg since reaching the Queen’s Club final earlier this month. Concern over her fitness intensified after she cut short a practice session and was seen with heavy strapping on her leg. A scan later confirmed the injury had developed into a stress fracture, leaving her with no choice but to withdraw.
Although Raducanu will not feature at Wimbledon, she will still collect £40,000 under the tournament’s Grand Slam Injury Protection Programme. This rule states that any main-draw singles player who withdraws after the draw has been made but before their first-round match receives 50 per cent of the opening-round prize money.
With first-round losers guaranteed £80,000 this year, Raducanu is entitled to half that amount despite being unable to compete. The remaining £40,000 will instead go to the player who replaces her in the draw. While the payment offers some financial compensation, Raducanu has ultimately missed the opportunity to compete for the women’s singles title and the £3.56 million winner’s cheque.
The former US Open champion enjoyed an encouraging grass-court season before injury struck, reaching the Queen’s Club final in her best run since her remarkable triumph in New York in 2021. She had hoped to carry this momentum into Wimbledon after reaching the third round last year, where she was beaten in straight sets by Aryna Sabalenka.
Confirming her withdrawal on social media, Raducanu expressed her disappointment: “I can’t believe I’m saying this but sadly I’ve had to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon. I’ve done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I’ve been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I’ve been medically advised to stop pushing through.”
She added: “Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process.” Attention will now turn to Raducanu’s recovery as she begins rehabilitation, with hopes for a return later this summer during the North American hard-court swing.
For now, however, the former Grand Slam champion must watch from the sidelines after seeing her Wimbledon dream end before the tournament had even begun. The wait for a first major title since the US Open in 2021 continues, a reminder of the thin line athletes walk between glory and disappointment.
