Raducanu withdraws from US Open

Stress fracture forces Raducanu out

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the US Open after revealing she is dealing with a stress fracture sustained prior to Wimbledon. It caps a miserable 2026 campaign for the former champion, who has been plagued by a string of injuries that wiped out large portions of her clay and grass court schedules.

Early season shutdown on the table

There are growing calls for Raducanu to shut down her season entirely and prioritise long-term recovery. Doing so would allow her to step away from the WTA Tour and return in 2027 under a protected ranking - a route that could prove far more productive than pushing through further pain.

Rankings risk

The obvious downside is a slide out of the top 100, which would be a bitter pill for the 23-year-old. Yet coming back fully fit with ranking protection could ultimately serve her better than limping through a half-hearted autumn swing.

Croft urges caution

Former player and commentator Annabel Croft has weighed in, arguing that Raducanu's health must come first. Croft stressed that taking proper time to heal now would be far wiser than risking further damage by rushing back.

UNIQLO deal adds complexity

Complicating matters is Raducanu's new sponsorship agreement with UNIQLO, which may carry expectations around appearances at Asian tournaments later in the year. Whether commercial obligations override medical advice remains to be seen - but they shouldn't.