Emma Raducanu pulled out of Wimbledon 2026 on Sunday evening, just hours before her scheduled first-round match against Antonia Ruzic, after a stress fracture in her right leg forced her to abandon her campaign. The British No.1, seeded 30th, had already faced setbacks this season, including a third-round exit at the Queens Club Championships and a withdrawal from the WTA 250 Nottingham event.
Why Did Emma Raducanu Withdraw? Raducanu’s withdrawal came after weeks of uncertainty. She had been seen taping her lower right leg during practice sessions leading up to Wimbledon, raising fears about her readiness. In a pre-match press conference, she had insisted she planned to play, but the injury flared up, leaving her no choice but to pull out.
The stress fracture is the latest in a string of health issues that have hindered her progress. Just months earlier, she reached the Queens Club final, losing in three sets to Donna Vekić (6-3, 6-7, 4-6) on June 16. That run had been her best grass-court performance since her 2021 US Open title, where she became the first qualifier in Open Era history to win a Grand Slam.
What Did John McEnroe Say? **John McEnroe**, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, weighed in on Raducanu’s struggles during a **BBC Radio 5 Live** interview. He expressed frustration over her recurring injuries, calling her situation “horrible” and hoping she would recover quickly.
*“Emma’s continuing to have these problems and can’t stay healthy,”* McEnroe said. *“We hope she gets healthy soon.”* He also compared Raducanu’s 2021 US Open victory to Arthur Fery’s unexpected semi-final run at Wimbledon as a qualifier, calling them *“pretty close”* in terms of achievement.
How Does This Compare to Other British Players? McEnroe’s comments also touched on **Jack Draper**, who reached the **Wimbledon semi-finals** in 2025 as the fourth seed before struggling in subsequent majors. He suggested Raducanu’s breakthrough was more remarkable due to her qualifier status, though Fery’s recent form has raised hopes for British tennis.
Tim Henman, who witnessed Raducanu’s US Open triumph, agreed: *“It’s in the same league isn’t it? Fery’s had more professional tennis experience. Raducanu made the fourth round of Wimbledon a couple months before, but her coming from qualifying like that… there’s a long way for Fery to go yet.”*
What Comes Next for Emma Raducanu? Raducanu’s next tournament remains unclear, but her withdrawal from Wimbledon marks another setback in a season where consistency has eluded her. Her ranking has slipped from a career-high of No.10 to **No.33**, and her ability to stay injury-free will determine whether she can reclaim her best form.
The 22-year-old’s path to recovery will be closely watched, especially as she prepares for the US Open, where she could once again test her resilience on a major stage.