Emma Raducanu’s participation at Wimbledon is in doubt after the British player missed scheduled practice and was seen wearing an orthopaedic boot just days before the tournament begins.
The 2021 US Open champion was reportedly spotted leaving the Aorangi Park practice complex on Wednesday evening wearing a protective device on her right leg.
She then failed to appear for a scheduled midday training session at the All England Club on Thursday.
Representative downplays concerns
Despite the alarming images emerging so close to her home Grand Slam, her management has insisted there is no serious underlying issue.
“Emma is absolutely fine. She will play tomorrow.”
Thomas Houchin, one of her representatives, offered the reassuring update to ease growing spectator anxiety.
The former British number one had been pictured practicing on Monday but did not book any court time across the following two days.
Recent grass-court preparations
The talented right-hander recently enjoyed an excellent run to the final of a grass-court warm-up event, narrowly losing to former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic.
However, after playing five matches in quick succession, she opted to rest and declined a wildcard into this week’s Eastbourne tournament.
Following that intense schedule, the Briton admitted she had been managing minor physical issues.
“Dealing with a few niggles over the past few weeks.”
She notably slipped on the grass during a recent quarter-final tie and required a medical timeout, although she managed to complete the tournament without obvious discomfort.
Ongoing fitness struggles
Injury setbacks have been a persistent theme of her career since that historic breakthrough in New York.
A post-viral illness previously forced the Grand Slam winner to miss almost the entire clay-court swing after the Indian Wells tournament in March.
Missing the impending major would represent a significant blow for the home favourite, who has twice reached the fourth round at SW19.
Main draw action at Wimbledon commences on Monday, with the official draw taking place this Friday.
World number one Jannik Sinner arrives as the clear favourite to defend his Wimbledon title after two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew with a wrist injury.
The Italian top seed is aiming to retain his crown at the All England Club.
His path appears significantly clearer with Spain’s golden boy sidelined from the grass-court major.
However, the defending champion faces questions over his fitness after struggling with suspected heat exhaustion during last month’s French Open.
Djokovic chases history despite ranking slide
Novak Djokovic remains a formidable obstacle in the men’s singles draw.
The 39-year-old veteran is bidding to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles.
Securing victory would also give the Serbian a historic 25th Grand Slam singles triumph.
Despite dropping to a four-year low in the world rankings, the relentless competitor refuses to fade away.
Contenders emerge in wide-open men’s draw
Alexander Zverev enters the tournament full of confidence following his recent success at Roland Garros.
Australian speedster Alex de Minaur has also shown exceptional form on the grass this season.
Meanwhile, British hopes rest heavily on the shoulders of Jack Draper.
Sir Andy Murray recently suggested his 24-year-old protégé is finally ready to make a major impact.
Sabalenka and Raducanu lead women’s charge
The women’s tournament promises an equally fiercely contested battle for the prestigious trophy.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is determined to add a first Wimbledon crown to her growing collection of majors.
Home crowds will be eagerly watching Emma Raducanu’s progress in London.
The British star sparked nationwide excitement by reaching the final at Queen’s earlier this month.
Emerging stars threaten established order
Teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva is rapidly establishing herself as the sport’s next great superstar.
The young prospect arrives with immense momentum after a brilliant run in Paris.
Former champion Elena Rybakina also remains a highly dangerous competitor.
The Kazakhstani player possesses a proven habit of quietly advancing to the latter stages of major tournaments.
Leading tennis players will expand their media protests at Wimbledon next week to demand a greater share of tournament revenue, despite a record 20% increase in the total prize fund.
Competitors plan to restrict both pre-tournament press conferences and post-match appearances to just 15 minutes throughout the opening week of the championships.
This strict time limit is designed to symbolise the 15% of revenue that Grand Slam events broadly allocate to competitor compensation.
It is understood that the collective decision currently holds the backing of the majority of the world’s top 20 ranked stars.
Previous action in Paris
Similar demonstrations took place at the recent French Open, where several high-profile individuals limited their pre-tournament media availability.
Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka notably cut short her initial press conference at Roland Garros.
Reigning major champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek also followed the strict ‘work to rule’ directive in the French capital.
However, 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic opted against participating in the media restriction.
Record prize fund falls short
Earlier this month, athlete representatives welcomed the All England Club’s decision to boost the tournament purse to £64.2m.
The respective singles champions will each receive £3.6m, while those exiting in the first round are guaranteed a minimum of £80,000.
Despite acknowledging the historic increase as a meaningful statement of intent, the playing cohort insists the total figure remains roughly £7m short of their expectations.
Alongside higher financial compensation, competitors are requesting mandatory contributions to a benefit pool and a stronger voice in tournament operations.
Organisers reject percentage model
Tournament officials have firmly pushed back against the idea of linking player pay directly to overall event income.
We don’t look at percentages, we don’t actually believe that is the right metric.
Deborah Jevans, chair of the All England Club, noted that significant expenses such as infrastructure and grass-court investment must be factored into the annual budget.
You cannot run a sustainable business, and we have nearly been around for 150 years, just by looking at revenue. That is just plainly wrong.
Wimbledon qualifying matches have been temporarily suspended after intense heat caused electronic line-calling systems to malfunction.
Organisers were forced to halt play across all courts while the technology underwent a full recalibration.
Temperatures soared across the capital, prompting officials to push the scheduled restart time back to 13:15 BST.
Technology struggles in severe conditions
Former tennis professional Annabel Croft described the disruption as a highly unusual situation for the preliminary rounds.
“The heat is wreaking havoc with the electronic line calling system all around the ground.”
Fellow broadcaster Andrew Castle also noted the sweltering climate, agreeing with official announcements urging spectators to remain hydrated.
The sudden stoppage interrupted several crucial matches as competitors fought for a lucrative place in the main tournament.
British hopeful faces difficult restart
Dan Evans was among the athletes forced to abandon the court during the unexpected weather delay.
The experienced Briton was already trailing Australian opponent Tristan Schoolkate by a single set when the suspension occurred.
He must now mount a significant comeback in the draining conditions to keep his grass-court Grand Slam dreams alive.
The successful qualifiers will be placed into the main draw on Friday, before the first round officially gets underway on Monday.
British number one Emma Raducanu is targeting a deep run at Wimbledon following an impressive streak to the HSBC Championships final at Queen’s Club.
The 23-year-old will arrive at the All England Club well rested after opting to skip the Eastbourne International to focus on grass-court practice.
Her resurgence in west London marked her most successful tour event since her historic 2021 US Open victory.
Overcoming illness and finding form
The first half of 2026 proved challenging for the former Grand Slam champion, who suffered a severe post-viral illness.
That setback forced her to miss major tournaments in Miami, Madrid, and Rome, leaving her with just one victory since March.
She subsequently suffered a first-round exit at the French Open following an error-strewn display against Argentina’s Solana Sierra.
However, the lightning-fast baseliner played outstanding, aggressive tennis at Queen’s, reaching the final without dropping a set before a dramatic three-set defeat to Donna Vekic.
Reunion with Richardson brings stability
In a significant move ahead of the grass-court major, the British star has reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to triumph in New York.
This renewed collaboration brings welcome stability after going through a steady stream of coaches over the past four years.
The 30th seed believes this fresh mindset and familiar setup are already paying dividends.
“I think the way I was feeling on the court, the way I was moving, the way I was expressing myself, I really enjoyed it.”
The returning prodigy said after her opening Queen’s Club victory over Russian qualifier Anna Blinkova.
“I think that’s something that I want to take forward in all of my matches and really embrace this grass court season.”
The ‘new Emma’ emerges
After defeating Iva Jovic to secure her place in the final, the home favourite emphasised the importance of enjoying her tennis.
“When I’m smiling and enjoying it, that’s when I feel the best level can kind of flow out from there, rather than trying to put me in any type of mould.”
She believes she has evolved significantly since her breakthrough triumph as a teenager.
“I think it’s the ‘new Emma’, because you take all the lessons and experience, all the different ups and downs, and you understand a lot more of what’s going on and what works for you.”
“I’m back and better.”
Having pushed world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling third-round encounter at SW19 last year, expectations will be high as she returns to her home courts.
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been handed a four-year suspension from tennis after refusing an out-of-competition drugs test.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed the lengthy sanction on Monday following an independent tribunal hearing.
The Czech player declined to provide a required sample to a doping control official during an unannounced visit last December.
Stress reaction claim rejected
In April, the former world number six released a public statement explaining her failure to comply with the random testers.
“I suffered an acute stress reaction which prevented me from thinking rationally.”
However, the independent tribunal dismissed this medical defence following a thorough review of the incident.
The official ruling concluded that her submitted evidence offered “no compelling justification” for avoiding the mandatory procedure.
Strict whereabouts rules enforced
The confrontation occurred outside of the designated daily testing window that all professional athletes must provide to authorities.
Despite this timing, anti-doping officials retain the right to conduct random tests outside of submitted whereabouts hours to ensure strict compliance.
The 2023 All England Club winner now faces a devastating hiatus from the sport during what should be her peak athletic years.
This severe ban effectively halts the career of the left-handed star, who famously shocked the tennis world by winning the grass-court major as an unseeded competitor.
Seven-time champion Serena Williams will make a surprise return to singles action at Wimbledon this month after accepting a main draw wildcard.
The 44-year-old has been awarded the final spot in the women’s draw, filling a gap left following Tuesday’s initial entry announcements.
This shock comeback follows her recent competitive return in two doubles matches, ending a four-year absence from professional tennis.
Chasing Margaret Court’s elusive record
The American tennis icon currently holds 23 major singles titles, leaving her just one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record.
She had already confirmed her participation at SW19 in the doubles event alongside her older sister Venus.
When asked earlier this month about a potential singles comeback, the former world number one initially played down expectations.
“You think I’m ready for singles? I need to get to work.”
A dominant history on the London grass
The legendary competitor has not secured a singles victory at the All England Club since reaching the 2019 final against Simona Halep.
Despite recent struggles, her grass-court pedigree remains unmatched with an 87% career win-rate on the pristine surface.
The 73-time WTA tour winner captured her first Venus Rosewater Dish in 2002 after defeating her sister in the showcase match.
She subsequently dominated the tournament over the next two decades, adding six more singles triumphs and six women’s doubles crowns to her historic tally.
Overcoming recent injury heartbreaks
Recent appearances at the historic venue have ended in frustration for the career Golden Slam winner.
Her 2021 campaign lasted a mere six games before an unfortunate injury forced a tearful retirement against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
A wildcard entry the following year saw her fall agonisingly short in a final-set tie-break against Harmony Tan.
When questioned if that defeat marked her final Wimbledon appearance, she offered a cryptic response regarding her future.
“That’s a question I can’t answer. Who knows? Who knows where I’ll pop up?”
Fans will discover her first-round opponent when the official tournament draw takes place this Friday, ahead of the first matches on Monday, 29 June.
British tennis player Jack Draper is set to return at the Eastbourne Open ahead of Wimbledon following a frustrating 12-month injury spell that has seen his world ranking plummet.
The 22-year-old has fallen to 160th in the ATP standings after battling continuous physical setbacks.
He is now preparing to test his match fitness on the south coast against American fifth seed Brandon Nakashima.
It marks a crucial step for the left-hander under the new guidance of his coach, two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray.
Battling physical and mental hurdles
The former top-10 player first encountered a persistent arm issue at last year’s Madrid Masters.
He pushed through the pain barrier at both Wimbledon and the US Open before an eventual premature withdrawal in New York.
Ongoing knee tendonitis has further complicated his recovery, forcing a frustrating walkover against Tomas Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open in April.
“It’s been an incredibly difficult year.”
Draper told reporters prior to his imminent grass-court comeback.
“I’m someone who’s all-in with my tennis. I’m obsessed with improving and being the best in the world and doing all the right things.”
A glimpse of form and steep decline
Despite his ongoing physical hell, the British hopeful showed his immense potential at Indian Wells earlier this season.
He secured a stunning victory over Novak Djokovic en route to the quarter-finals before eventually falling to Daniil Medvedev.
However, the inability to consistently compete on the ATP Tour has been incredibly taxing for the ambitious athlete.
“Outside of tennis, there is not a lot going on for me. It’s obviously been very isolated; a lot of tough days.”
He admitted that watching his hard-earned ranking disappear was the most difficult part of the process.
“I was top 10 in the world, doing great things, and you’re losing your ranking every week.”
Patience ahead of Wimbledon
The rising prospect bypassed the recent Queen’s Club Championships because he felt his body was not quite ready for top-level match play.
Last year, he famously battled through a severe bout of tonsillitis to reach the semi-finals of that prestigious grass-court tournament.
“You know what tonsillitis is like, you’re barely getting out of bed.”
He believes his prolonged absence has forced him to develop a newfound patience with his physical recovery.
Now, he views his current position outside the top 100 not as a defeat, but as a chance to rebuild his promising career from the ground up.
“Having to almost start again with my ranking and with everything, it’s an incredible opportunity to come back.”