Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her lower right leg.
The 23-year-old made the announcement around seven hours after telling journalists she planned to play.
Raducanu was due to go up against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic on Monday on Court One at 1pm.
The 23-year-old said: “I’ve done everything possible to try to get to the start line, but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I’ve been managing has developed into a stress fracture.
“I’ve been medically advised to stop pushing through.”
Concerns about Raducanu’s fitness have been growing in recent weeks.
She was spotted wearing a protective boot on Wednesday and missed training on Thursday and Friday.
The 23-year-old returned to the court on Saturday with strapping around her lower right leg, but was forced to cut her practice session short.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon
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GETTY
Raducanu had told reporters her intentions were to be out on Court One for her first-round match.
She said: “I’m going to do everything with my team in terms of treatment. The plan right now is to play.”
The injury has taken its toll, with Raducanu forced to withdraw from this year’s tournament.
Her last match came in the Queen’s Club Championship, following an incredible run to reach the final two of the competition.
Raducanu has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her lower right leg
| REUTERS
Speaking to journalists earlier in the day about the problems she was having with her leg, the British No1 was keen to explain that it was just a “niggle”.
She said: “I’ve been managing it. Queen’s, maybe, was a lot of load for me.
“Five matches after having not competed for a while, it was just a lot.
“But I’m just managing it with my team as best as I possibly can, exhausting all options and doing what we can.”
Raducanu told journalists earlier in the day that her intentions were to play
| PA
The 2021 US Open champion returned to the court on Saturday to test her fitness, with strapping on her lower right leg.
The practice session with Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya was cut short when the pair played a set.
There had been signs of improvement on Sunday morning, appearing less tentative with hitting partner Alexis Carter.
However, following medical advice, the 23-year-old has been forced to withdraw from the tournament.
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