Wimbledon confirm Emma Raducanu replacement as star given just hours to prepare
Emma Raducanu's replacement has been named at the eleventh hour after the British No.1 withdrew from Wimbledon last night. The Grand Slam gets underway today and Raducanu was due to face Croatia's Antonia Ruzic on Court 1 this afternoon. But she confirmed shortly after 10pm on Sunday night that she will not be competing. Raducanu's decision came just a few hours after she told journalists at the All England Club she was planning to play.
Ruzic's match has now been moved from the first on Court 1 to the second on Court 17, meaning it still will not begin before 1pm. Instead, Brit Harriet Dart will take on Jelena Ostapenko on SW19's second-biggest showcourt. While Raducanu's replacement to face Ruzic has now been named as lucky loser Darja Semenistaja. The Latvian world No.112 was the sixth seed in qualifying and lost in straight sets to Russian Anastasia Gasanova but will now play her first main draw match at the iconic tournament.
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Fellow Brit Heather Watson, 34, had been hoping to get the call after losing to first seed Maria Timofeeva in the final round of qualifying. But unfortunately the former quarter-finalist will miss out on the Grand Slam for the first time since turning professional in 2010.
Raducanu, 23, said in a statement: "Hi everyone. I can't believe I'm saying this, but sadly I've had to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon.
"I've done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I've been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I've been medically advised to stop pushing through.
"Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. Especially at a time like this, it is invaluable. I look forward to seeing you when I'm back."
In response, Wimbledon posted on X: "We're so sorry to hear your news, @EmmaRaducanu - get better soon."
Raducanu's injury is in her right lower leg. She has managed the problem throughout June since reaching the final at Queen's, her first on grass, where she lost 6-0, 7-6 to Donna Vekic. She pulled out of the Nottingham Open the following week.
The world No.33 explained on Sunday afternoon: "I've been managing it. I think it's something that I'd say recently has probably, after Queen's maybe, during that week, was a lot of load for me.
"Five matches after having not competed for a while, I think it was just a lot of load. It's been tricky. I had a great week at Queen's. All I want to do is to keep building on that momentum.
I've had a tough start to the season, a lot of time out. I think hearing and feeling this is difficult. I have great people around me.
"I think that's one thing that's really been helping in this latest setback. I think having their support, they're really in it with me. It means a lot to have that."
Raducanu's withdrawal leaves only one British seed at Wimbledon this year. Cameron Norrie is the 26th seed in the men's draw with Jack Draper and Katie Boulter suffering significant ranking drops in the last 12 months due to injuries.
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