Former champion Emma Raducanu will miss the US Open due to a stress fracture in her right lower leg, according to reports from Reuters and British media. The 23-year-old British number one made the decision following consultations with her medical team.
The withdrawal comes as Raducanu continues rehabilitation for the injury, which previously forced her to pull out of Wimbledon. The US Open is scheduled to begin on August 30, with the main draw starting in four weeks from the time of the reports.
Injury Timeline and Impact
Raducanu suffered the stress fracture during the grass-court season. She had been managing what she described as a niggle
in her lower leg after reaching the final at the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club in June. While that week marked one of the best of her career—her biggest final since the 2021 US Open—the effort triggered the setback. Raducanu noted that playing five matches at Queen’s after a period of non-competition represented a lot of load
.
The injury led to a late withdrawal from Wimbledon on the eve of the tournament. Despite telling the media she intended to compete and claiming she probably pushed beyond anything
she normally would for other tournaments, a final scan revealed the issue had worsened into a stress fracture. She was the No. 30 seed in the women’s draw and was scheduled to face Antonia Ruzic on No. 1 Court.
Recent updates indicate Raducanu has only recently taken tentative steps back on court while wearing a protective boot. She recently posted a video on Instagram from a break in Switzerland, describing the period as the best reset ever
, though the footage showed her practicing serves while still wearing the boot on her right foot.
A Season of Physical Setbacks
The stress fracture is the latest in a series of physical challenges for Raducanu over the past 12 months. Her season has been hampered by the following issues:
- Pre-season: A right foot injury suffered last year severely hampered her early season preparations and training.
- February: A post-viral illness forced her off court for two and a half months.
- Spring: Lingering concerns from the illness caused her to miss WTA 1000 events in Rome, Madrid, and Miami.
- June: The development of the right leg stress fracture following her run at Queen’s Club.
Professional Standing and Outlook
Raducanu returned to competition at the end of the clay-court season and rehired Andrew Richardson, the coach who was with her during her 2021 US Open title win. However, the pair has had limited time on court together due to her health issues.
The injury has significant implications for her standing and upcoming schedule:
- Ranking: Raducanu currently holds a ranking of 49, though she is expected to slide from this position.
- National Team: She was not named to the Great Britain team for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals taking place in late September.
- 2026 Season: There are currently questions regarding whether she will compete again in 2026.
Raducanu has not won a tour-level tournament since her surprise run as a qualifier to win the US Open five years ago at age 18. She last showed significant form in June at Queen’s, where she reached the final before losing to Donna Vekic of Croatia, according to AOL.
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