Emma Raducanu withdrew from the Nottingham Open with injury, limiting her grass-court game time to just over half an hour this season. After a year blighted by fitness struggles, the British teenager faces a challenge to be ready in time to compete at Wimbledon – the tournament where she burst onto the scene just one year ago. Her team are said to be ‘reluctant’ to rush her back to action.
Emma Raducanu will miss the Eastbourne International, as her build up to Wimbledon hits yet another stumbling block.
The British women’s No. 1 had until 4pm on Friday to request wildcard entry, but that deadline passed without her name on the list.
Raducanu has played just 33 minutes of grass-court tennis in preparation for her home Grand Slam, after injury forced her to withdraw from the Nottingham Open.
The 19-year-old was 4-3 down in the first set of her first round tie against Viktorija Golubic when a side strain caused her to require medical assistance, before pulling out of the competition.
According to PA, Raducanu’s team were reportedly reluctant to let her play at Eastbourne as she takes on her latest fight for fitness, in a year which has been blighted by injury.
Blister problems at the Australian Open were followed by a withdrawal in Guadalajara with a hip injury.
March saw Raducanu beaten in the first round at Indian Wells as she suffered from a stiff back, while blisters returned in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Back pain was an issue once more at the Italian Open, while her current side strain is leaving the reigning US Open champion in a tricky position going into the tournament where she won so many fans just one year ago.
Her victories over Vitalia Diatchenko, Marketa Vondrousova and Sorana Cirstea in London 12 months ago made her the youngest British woman to reach the last 16 of the tournament in the Open era.
This was followed by her magical Grand Slam win at the US Open, which saw Raducanu hit superstardom.
