US Open champion Emma Raducanu has no idea if she would be fit to play at Wimbledon, the 19-year-old said after a “freak injury” forced her to retire from her opening match at the WTA 250 event in Nottingham on Tuesday.
Britain’s Raducanu retired when she was a break down at 4-3 in the opening set against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, nearly half an hour into the match after she suffered what appeared to be a side strain.
Raducanu reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2021 but will need a quick recovery to compete at this year’s tournament which will be held from June 27 to July 10.
“First game, absolute freak. I think I pulled something. I’m not really sure what exactly happened. I just came off court,” Raducanu told British media.“It’s on the side of my body. It feels, I don’t know, maybe around my rib or something.”
Asked if she would be fit for Wimbledon, Raducanu said: “I’ve got no idea. It could’ve just seized up and spasmed and then it’s really bad for a few days. But I’ve got no idea. I can’t diagnose myself, so I’ll get it checked out.”
Raducanu, who has been without a full-time coach since April, shot to stardom last September when, as a qualifier, she won the US Open title, becoming Britain’s first female grand slam champion since Virginia Wade in 1977.
She has, however, suffered a string of fitness issues since winning her maiden grand slam title.
“I am obviously disappointed and it is really bad luck,” Raducanu added.
“You just want to catch a break but I haven’t really. That’s out of my control, but right now all I can focus on is what I am doing and I think I am doing a lot of good work.”
