Emma Raducanu ruled out of US Open as injury recovery continues

The British number one suffered the injury during the grass-court season and made the decision to withdraw from Wimbledon shortly before the tournament began.

Raducanu’s absence from Flushing Meadows means she will not compete at the scene of her greatest triumph, with the 2021 champion missing the tournament which gets underway on 23 August.

The decision followed further consultations with her medical team, with the 23-year-old having only recently returned to court while wearing a protective boot as she manages her recovery.

Raducanu’s latest setback adds to a difficult period physically, despite flashes of encouraging form over the past year. Last summer, she recorded her first victories at the US Open since her stunning title run in 2021, but ongoing injury problems have continued to disrupt her progress.

A foot injury affected her preparations ahead of the 2025 season, before a post-viral illness kept her away from competition for around two and a half months after she first became unwell in February.

She eventually returned towards the end of the clay-court campaign and reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her during her remarkable run to the US Open title.

However, their time together on court has been limited, with Raducanu’s latest injury interrupting her momentum once again.

The former Grand Slam champion enjoyed one of the strongest runs of her recent career at Queen’s Club in June, reaching her biggest final since her breakthrough victory in New York. However, that impressive run also contributed to the latest setback, with the physical demands of the tournament taking their toll.

Raducanu has now been left facing a race against time to return to action, with her world ranking set to drop from its current position of 49.

She was also absent from Great Britain’s squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in late September, raising further doubts over whether she will compete again during the 2026 season.

Despite the frustration, Raducanu has remained positive during her recovery. The Briton recently shared an upbeat update on Instagram from a break in Switzerland, describing it as the “best reset ever”.

The post included footage of her working on her serve while still wearing a protective boot on her right foot, suggesting she is continuing her rehabilitation as she looks to make a return to competitive tennis.