British tennis stars Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu have withdrawn from Wimbledon due to injuries, marking a significant blow to home hopes at the tournament.
Draper, 24, cited a recurrence of an arm injury that has plagued him for over a year, forcing him to pull out of his first-round match against American Taylor Fritz. The former world No. 4 expressed his devastation, stating, 'There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon.' His withdrawal follows a difficult year, during which he has struggled with injuries and limited playing time.
Raducanu, 23, withdrew due to a stress fracture in her lower right leg, an injury that had been worsening for weeks. The British No. 1 had been scheduled to face Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic on Court One. Former U.S. Open champion Tim Henman suggested Raducanu needs to improve her physical resilience, noting that her recent training and injury history were 'far from ideal.'
Other British losses on Day 1 included Harriet Dart, who lost to Jelena Ostapenko in a three-set match. Ostapenko, despite serving more double faults than aces in the first set, secured the victory. The early exits have left British fans disappointed, as the tournament progresses without its top home stars.
Draper’s withdrawal raises broader concerns about player injuries in men’s tennis. He previously warned that the sport must address the issue to avoid further disruptions. His replacement in the draw is Serbian lucky loser Dusan Lajovic, who will now face Fritz.
Raducanu’s withdrawal has sparked discussions about her fitness and training regimen. Henman, a longtime supporter, emphasized the need for better coordination between her coaching and medical teams. Her return to former coach Andrew Richardson this summer suggests a shift toward stricter physical standards.
The tournament continues with British players facing an uphill battle, as the absence of Draper and Raducanu leaves a void in the home contingent.