Emma Raducanu is dealing with a right foot injury ahead of her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic on Monday.
Emma Raducanu is heading into her Wimbledon debut with serious concerns. The British player, seeded No. 30, is struggling with a right foot injury but still plans to play on Monday. Raducanu is scheduled to face Antonia Ruzic at 1:00 p.m. on No. 1 Court.
In her press conference, held on Sunday to make up for a previously postponed session, the 23-year-old emphasized that she would try “everything” with her team in terms of treatment. The plan remains to compete—even if she currently has to take it day by day. Raducanu describes the situation as grueling because she doesn’t know in the morning “whether she’ll be in or out.”
According to her, the pain has been bothering her since the end of the clay-court season, shortly after she had just returned from a two-month break due to a post-viral illness. After her run to the final at the Queen’s Club, the problem worsened. For Wimbledon, however, she is ready to go further than at any other tournament: she has “pushed beyond everything.”
Training cut short, foot heavily taped
Her preparation was correspondingly chaotic. Raducanu skipped training on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday she cut short a planned two-hour session. During a warm-up session with Anna Kalinskaya, she was unable to put her full weight on her heavily taped right foot.
On Sunday, Raducanu was back on the court at Aorangi Park and appeared much more relaxed. With her practice partner Alexis Canter, she completed a session lasting about an hour, though without much running or simulated match play. Whether that will be enough for a Grand Slam debut remains to be seen until shortly before the match begins.
The recurring setbacks are also taking a mental toll on Raducanu. Even after her first-round exit at the French Open in May, she spoke emotionally about the strain caused by the many injuries in her still-short career. Above all, she finds support in the people around her, who are standing by her closely “in this latest situation.”
Ruzic Awaits – Raducanu Relying on Treatment
Her opponent, Ruzic, enters the match as the underdog but brings the carefree style of an aggressive baseline player. The Croatian is ranked on the WTA Tour and is one of the rising stars who thrives on fast surfaces. Raducanu plans to rely on treatment until the last minute—with the clear goal of being able to take the court on grass on Monday.
