British tennis star Emma Raducanu has affirmed her intention to compete at Wimbledon, despite ongoing concerns regarding a lower-leg niggle. The 23-year-old, who has been managing the issue for several weeks, confirmed her 'plan to play' in the prestigious home Grand Slam, acknowledging that she is willing to take calculated risks to participate.
Raducanu, the 30th seed, is set to face Antonia Ruzic in her opening match on Court No. 1 on Monday at 1pm. Her preparations have been under scrutiny, particularly after she was seen wearing a protective boot earlier in the week and cut short a training session on Saturday after losing the first four games against Anna Kalinskaya. However, a more positive update emerged on Sunday following a practice session, with Raducanu stating she 'did feel better' on court.
The issue first arose during her impressive run at Queen's earlier this month, where she reached her third career final after returning from a prolonged injury lay-off. That demanding week saw her play five matches, including two in a single day, which may have exacerbated the existing problem. Despite the physical toll, Raducanu expressed her determination to push through for Wimbledon.
“I think there are certain tournaments you're willing to do more for, put yourself on the line more for, risk more for. For me, of course, Wimbledon is that,” Raducanu explained. She added that she had likely 'pushed beyond anything that I would [have done] for any other tournament,' highlighting the unique significance of the event. She conceded that no one could guarantee the injury wouldn't worsen, but she was prepared to weigh those risks.
Injury struggles have been a recurring challenge throughout the former US Open champion's career, making the uncertainty surrounding her Wimbledon readiness particularly difficult. She described the feeling of not knowing whether she would be able to compete as creating 'a lot of uncertainty,' but emphasised her commitment to daily treatment and practice. Raducanu ultimately lost the Queen's final to former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic.