Emma Raducanu hit a new bump in the road as she was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon just hours before her opening match due to a leg injury. Despite this setback, the British tennis star is set to pocket a cool £40,000 from the tournament. Under Grand Slam rules, players who have to pull out after the draw receive half of the first-round prize money.
Emma’s withdrawal came after a scan revealed a stress fracture in her lower leg, ending her hopes of a home win before she even started. The 23-year-old had been due to face Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, but her spot will now be taken by a lucky loser from the qualifiers.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Emma, though. Off the court, she’s been enjoying time with her new beau, PR executive John Friend. The couple has been spotted together at various events, with John showing his support from Emma’s player box during the grass-court season. When asked recently about whether being content off the court helps her career, Emma shared with a smile, “I have amazing support from my team, family, and friends. Being around positive people definitely helps through tough times.”
Despite the disappointment, Emma remains upbeat and looks forward to recovering and returning to action. The missed opportunity at Wimbledon is another chapter in her injury-hit career, but with her strong support system, she’ll be back stronger than ever. Keep your chin up, Emma!