British tennis star Emma Raducanu is hopeful of playing at Wimbledon later this month despite retiring from a match on Tuesday with what she described as a “freak” injury.
Raducanu was facing Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in a WTA 250 event in Nottingham when she felt as if she had “pulled something” on the side of her body.
But the US Open champion said she is eying up a return to the court later in the grass court swing.
“It was disappointing to go out this week with a side injury and unfortunately (I) will no longer be able to play in Birmingham,” Raducanu said in a statement released by the Lawn Tennis Association.
“I’m looking forward to being back on the match court soon though to enjoy the rest of the grass season.”
The 19-year-old Raducanu reached the fourth round of last year’s Wimbledon on her grand slam debut.
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She then followed that up by winning the US Open in September but has struggled with form and fitness since her breakthrough last year and is currently without a coach.
On Tuesday, Raducanu said she had “no idea” whether she would be able to compete at Wimbledon, which begins on June 27.
