Raducanu halts practice session to put Wimbledon bid in doubt / Photo: Adrian Dennis - AFP
Raducanu halts practice session to put Wimbledon bid in doubt
Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon participation was plunged into doubt on Saturday as the former US Open champion halted a practice session before cancelling a press conference.
Raducanu hasn't played since finishing as the Queen's Club runner-up earlier in June and was reportedly seen wearing a protective boot on Wednesday.
The British star did not train at Wimbledon on Thursday or Friday but was due for two hours of practice on Saturday, first at the All England Club's Aorangi Park practice courts and then on Court Three with Russia's Anna Kalinskaya.
Raducanu took to the court to face Kalinskaya with strapping on her right ankle and lower leg.
She struggled on serve and discussions with coach Andrew Richardson indicated she was far from happy.
Raducanu abruptly called an end to the session 10 minutes before it was due to finish and hugged Kalinskaya before quickly leaving the court.
Raducanu, who is seeded 30th at the All England Club, had been due to speak at a press conference on Saturday afternoon but it was announced she would be speaking on Sunday instead.
There are serious doubts over whether the 23-year-old will be fit for her first round match against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Monday.
Hampered by fitness issues since her astonishing triumph at the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier, Raducanu missed over two months of this season due to a post-viral illness.
A.Smith--MC-UK
