Emma Raducanu will be absent from this year’s US Open after a stress fracture in her right lower leg forced her to withdraw from the tournament. The British player, who currently holds the No. 1 ranking for the United Kingdom, first sustained the injury during the grass‑court swing and ultimately decided to pull out of Wimbledon as a precaution.
After consulting with her medical team, the Press Association reported that Raducanu has confirmed she will not be fit to compete in New York when the event begins later this month. The decision, while disappointing to fans, was largely expected given the severity of a stress fracture and the fact that Raducanu has only just begun to take tentative steps back onto the court, doing so with a protective boot on her injured foot. At 23 years old, the young champion is already facing a second major setback in her career. Raducanu’s journey over the past year has been a roller‑coaster of highs and lows.
After a promising comeback last summer that saw her win her first matches at Flushing Meadows since lifting the US Open trophy five years ago, she has been plagued by a series of physical problems that have hampered her progress. The most recent injury follows a foot issue that disrupted her pre‑season preparation, a prolonged bout of post‑viral illness that kept her away from the court for roughly ten weeks, and a challenging return to competition during the latter stages of the clay season. In an effort to recapture her former form, Raducanu reunited with former coach Andrew Richardson, the strategist who guided her to the historic 2021 US Open victory.
However, the partnership has been short‑lived, with limited time for them to work together on court before the injury resurfaced. Despite these obstacles, she managed to produce one of the best weeks of her professional life at Queen’s Club in June, reaching the final – her deepest run in a tournament since her landmark triumph in New York. Unfortunately, the intense effort required to reach that final appears to have triggered the stress fracture that now sidelines her. The British tennis federation also omitted Raducanu from the Great Britain squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals scheduled for late September, raising further questions about her immediate future on the sport’s biggest stages.
With her current world ranking of 49, a prolonged absence could see her slip further down the rankings, potentially affecting her eligibility for major events in the coming years, including the 2026 season. On social media, Raducanu attempted to maintain a positive outlook.
She posted an upbeat Instagram story from a brief vacation in Switzerland, describing the trip as the "best reset ever." The clip included a short video of her practicing serves while wearing a protective boot on her right foot, underscoring both her determination to stay connected to the game and the reality of her ongoing recovery. The broader tennis community has expressed support for the young star. Sky Sports, a major broadcaster of tennis in the UK, continues to provide coverage of the sport through its various platforms, including live streams on the NOW service and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can still follow the US Open’s action from August 30 onward via these channels, as well as keep up with other tournaments such as the National Bank Open in Montreal, where rising talent Jack Draper is set to make an appearance starting August 3. Looking ahead, Raducanu’s primary focus will be on rehabilitation and ensuring that her leg heals fully before she attempts another return to elite competition. Stress fractures typically require several weeks of rest, followed by a gradual re‑introduction to weight‑bearing activities and, eventually, sport‑specific training.
Her medical team will likely implement a structured program that includes physiotherapy, low‑impact conditioning, and a carefully monitored progression of on‑court practice. While the setback is certainly a disappointment, it also offers an opportunity for Raducanu to rebuild her foundation, address any lingering physical vulnerabilities, and return stronger. The tennis world will be watching closely as she navigates this challenging period, hoping that the resilience and mental toughness she displayed during her breakthrough US Open run will serve her well in the months and years to come.