British number one Emma Raducanu's preparations for Wimbledon have been cast into uncertainty after reports emerged of her wearing an orthopaedic boot. The 21-year-old was reportedly seen leaving the Aorangi Park practice complex at the All England Club on Wednesday evening with a boot on her right leg. This sighting, just days before the prestigious Grand Slam begins on Monday, has sparked considerable concern among fans and commentators.
Adding to the apprehension, Raducanu did not attend a scheduled practice session at the All England Club on Thursday. While one of her representatives, Thomas Houchin, reportedly stated she was "absolutely fine" and would play, the use of the boot and missed training raise questions about her fitness. She had been pictured practising on Monday but did not book further sessions on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Raducanu's recent form on grass has been promising, reaching the final of the WTA 500 warm-up tournament at Queen's Club less than two weeks ago. During her impressive run, she played five matches in quick succession, including both her quarter-final and semi-final on the same day. She eventually lost to former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic in the final. Following Queen's, she opted not to compete in the Nottingham tournament the following week and declined a wildcard for this week's event in Eastbourne, citing "a few niggles over the past few weeks."
Despite a slip on the grass during her Queen's quarter-final which necessitated a medical timeout, Raducanu appeared unhampered physically for the remainder of that tournament. However, her career since winning the US Open in 2021 has been characterised by a series of persistent injury and illness setbacks. A post-viral illness earlier this year kept her off court for two months, causing her to miss most of the clay-court season.
Wimbledon has been a happy hunting ground for Raducanu, where she has twice reached the fourth round, marking her best Grand Slam results since her historic US Open victory. Missing her home Grand Slam would represent a significant blow after a promising start to her grass-court season, a surface widely considered to suit her game. She reached the third round at SW19 last year and is expected to be seeded ahead of the draw, which takes place this Friday.