British tennis has been dealt an early setback at Wimbledon, with Emma Raducanu pulling out of the tournament after being diagnosed with a stress fracture. The withdrawal landed as a blow to home hopes before the third Grand Slam of the year had even properly got going.
Raducanu had been set to open her campaign on day one against Croatia's Antonia Ruzic. Instead of stepping onto the court, she was forced to pull out, removing one of the most closely watched British names from the draw at the All England Club.
The timing added to the sting. Just a few hours before the withdrawal was announced, Raducanu had told journalists that she planned to play, an indication of how quickly the situation changed as the extent of the problem became clear.
Reflecting on her fitness, the 23-year-old suggested the issue was tied to the demands on her body after a spell away from competition. She noted that she had not competed for a while, describing it as simply a lot of load, a nod to the difficulty of managing a schedule after time on the sidelines.
For home fans, the loss dampens expectations that had been building around a possible good run at Wimbledon. Raducanu remains one of the highest-profile British players, and her absence leaves a noticeable gap in the storylines heading into the tournament's opening days.
There is, however, still star power on show in South West London. Serena Williams, at the age of 44, is set to appear after being given a wild card into the singles, an appearance that is certain to draw attention and give the crowds a marquee name to cheer even without Raducanu in the field.