British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has declared her intention to compete at Wimbledon on Monday, despite lingering concerns over a leg injury that had cast serious doubt on her participation. The 23-year-old, seeded 30th for the tournament, made the decision following an hour-long practice session at the All England Club on Sunday afternoon. She is set to begin her campaign against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court One, with her match scheduled for 13:00 BST.
Fears regarding the British number one's fitness escalated over the past week. Raducanu was observed wearing a protective boot last Wednesday and subsequently missed training on Thursday and Friday due to what is understood to be a shin issue. Despite these setbacks, she returned to the court on Saturday to assess her condition, undertaking a gentle hour-long session with her team, with strapping visible on her lower right leg. However, a later practice session with Russia's Anna Kalinskaya was cut short by ten minutes.
Speaking at a news conference at Wimbledon on Sunday, Raducanu described the shin issue as a "niggle" she had been managing for approximately a month. She explained that her recent run to the Queen's final, where she played five matches after a period of limited competition, likely placed significant load on her leg. "I'm just managing it with my team as best as I possibly can, exhausting all options and doing what we can," she stated, adding that her current plan is to play.
This latest injury represents another challenge in Raducanu's career, which has seen a series of fitness problems since her breakthrough US Open victory five years ago. This season alone has been disrupted by a viral illness, limiting her to just six matches between early February and the start of Queen's. Her strong performance at Queen's had previously fostered optimism for a successful Wimbledon campaign, following her previous fourth-round appearances in 2021 and 2024.
The decision to play highlights Raducanu's determination to compete at her home Grand Slam. Given her track record of performing well on grass and the significant home support she receives, it appears she is willing to take a calculated risk with her injury to step out onto the courts of the All England Club.