Emma Raducanu pulls out of Wimbledon after ‘niggle develops into stress fracture’ Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2026 due to a stress fracture in her right foot, marking another significant setback in her career. The British No 1, seeded 30th, had been scheduled to open her campaign against Antonia Ruzic on Monday at No 1 Court. In a statement, Raducanu revealed that the injury, which she had been managing for weeks, had worsened after a final scan, prompting medical advice to avoid further strain. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but sadly I’ve had to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon,” she said. “Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process.” Raducanu’s withdrawal comes after a season plagued by recurring injuries. She struggled with foot problems during the off-season, followed by a virus in February that sidelined her for two months due to post-viral illness. Despite her efforts to recover, the current injury persisted since the end of the clay-court season. Her run to the Queen’s Club final at the start of the grass-court season had seemed to position her well for Wimbledon, but the injury worsened, leading to her latest setback. The 23-year-old expressed frustration over her ongoing physical challenges, particularly after her first-round defeat at the French Open in May. During a press conference, she openly wept when asked about the mental toll of navigating so many injuries. At Wimbledon, Raducanu attempted to stay positive, acknowledging the difficulty of her situation. “It’s been tricky,” she said. “I had a great week at Queen’s Club. All I want to do is keep building on that momentum.” She credited her support team for helping her maintain morale during the uncertainty of her recovery.#emma_raducanu #queen_s_club #wimbledon_2026 #antonia_ruzic #aorangi_park
Emma Raducanu Withdraws from Wimbledon Due to Stress Fracture Britain’s Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2026 after sustaining a stress fracture in her lower right leg, ending her hopes of competing at the prestigious tournament. The 23-year-old, who had planned to begin her campaign against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic on Court One, announced her decision shortly after 22:00 BST on Sunday, just hours before the tournament’s start. The announcement came after medical scans confirmed the injury, which had been worsening despite her efforts to manage it. Raducanu, seeded 30th, expressed disappointment at the news, emphasizing the emotional weight of missing the event, which she described as “everything” to her. The injury, a stress fracture in her lower right leg, was identified after a final scan conducted on Sunday evening. Raducanu had been grappling with the issue for weeks, with her fitness concerns growing as she struggled to train. Earlier in the week, she was seen wearing a protective boot and was unable to participate in full training sessions on Thursday and Friday due to a suspected shin problem. On Saturday, she returned to the court for a light session with her team, wearing strapping around her leg, but cut short a practice match against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya after just 10 minutes. Despite showing slight improvement in her Sunday morning session, Raducanu ultimately concluded she was not physically prepared to compete. Raducanu’s decision to withdraw was delayed until the last possible moment, reflecting her determination to play despite the injury. Throughout the day on Sunday, she had expressed optimism about pushing through the pain, even as her medical team advised against it.#emma_raducanu #queen_s_club #wimbledon_2026 #antonia_ruzic #transylvanian_open
Serena Williams to Play Women’s Singles at Wimbledon as Wildcard Entrant Serena Williams, the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, will make her grand slam return at Wimbledon after a six-year absence. The tennis icon, who retired from professional competition in 2022, has been granted a wildcard entry for the women’s singles tournament, marking her first appearance at the prestigious event since 2016. The All England Club announced the news on Sunday, confirming Williams as the eighth and final wildcard recipient in the women’s singles category. Wildcards are typically awarded to players whose rankings do not qualify them for automatic entry, often reserved for home nations, players with exceptional career records, or high-profile athletes returning from injury. Williams, a 44-year-old American, fits the latter category, having taken a three-and-a-half-year break from the sport before her recent comeback. Her return to competitive tennis began at the Queen’s Club Championships in June, where she partnered with Canadian doubles player Victoria Mboko. The duo exited the tournament in the quarterfinals, citing an injury sustained by Mboko, which led to a walkover. Williams also competed at the Berlin Open last week, teaming up with Czech player Karolina Muchova. Despite her efforts, she was eliminated in the round of 16. The announcement of her Wimbledon participation has generated significant excitement within the tennis community, with many hailing her as one of the greatest players of the Open Era. With 37 Grand Slam titles and 96 WTA titles to her name, Williams’ return to the sport has been widely celebrated. Her last Wimbledon title came in 2016, and she had previously reached the singles third round in her debut at the tournament in 1998.#wimbledon #serena_williams #queen_s_club #berlin_open #all_england_club
Serena Williams Makes Wimbledon Singles Comeback After Receiving Wildcard Serena Williams, the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion and 23-time Grand Slam singles winner, is set to make a dramatic return to the singles tournament at Wimbledon after being named the final wildcard entry. The 44-year-old, who had not competed in singles since the 2022 US Open, will attempt to reclaim her place in the sport’s most prestigious event after a four-year hiatus. Her participation in the tournament marks a significant step in her ongoing comeback, which has included a recent return to doubles competition. Williams will also compete in the doubles draw alongside her 46-year-old sister, Venus Williams, who has also been a fixture in the tournament’s doubles events. The wildcard announcement came as a surprise, with Williams leaving the decision to the last moment. The All England Club (AELTC) had allocated its remaining wildcards throughout the week, and the final singles wildcard was awarded to Williams on Sunday. The ladies’ qualifying singles draw will be released on Monday, with the AELTC required to finalize the wildcard recipient before the draw was published. Her return to singles competition follows a period of uncertainty, as Williams had remained vague about her intentions to participate in the singles event. During a press conference in Berlin, she was asked directly about her plans for a singles wildcard, to which she responded with hesitation, stating, “That’s the question of the hour, right? I don’t know. I don’t know. I wonder why there’s … I don’t know,” she said. Despite her previous reluctance, Williams ultimately decided to take on the challenge, citing her desire to compete at the highest level.#wimbledon #venus_williams #serena_williams #queen_s_club #all_england_club
Serena Williams Returns to Tennis in Doubles at Queen's Club, Focuses on Family and Fun Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, is embracing a new chapter in her tennis career as she prepares to make her competitive return at the HSBC Championships in London. The 44-year-old, who has not played since her farewell match at the 2022 US Open, has been granted a wild card for the women’s doubles event, partnering 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club. This marks her first competitive appearance since stepping away from the sport, a decision she once described as “evolving away” from tennis. Williams expressed her decision to return as a simple “Why not?” remark, emphasizing that her focus is not on winning but on enjoying the experience. “I don’t need to win,” she said. “I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me. It’s important that I keep reminding myself of that because I don’t have anything to prove.” She highlighted her lack of pressure, stating, “I don’t have anything to lose, and everything here is just to gain.” The mother of two also revealed that her return is deeply tied to her family. “For me right now, it’s really just about so many elements,” she said. “It’s really about my kids getting to see me play. Olympia is a little bit older, Adira is very young.” Williams described the opportunity to compete as “cool and exciting,” noting that being an athlete remains “the best thing you can be in the highest place.” While Williams has not ruled out a return to singles, she acknowledged that it is not imminent. “I can’t say no right now,” she said. “I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles, and we will see if I get there, and if not… that’s not my journey right now.#victoria_mboko #serena_williams #queen_s_club #hsbc_championships #adira
