Emma Raducanu's turbulent 2026 campaign has taken another painful turn, with the 23-year-old British No. 1 confirming she will miss the US Open after suffering a stress fracture to her right lower leg. The injury first emerged during the grass-court season and forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon at the last moment. Now, following close consultation with her medical team, Raducanu has accepted she cannot compete at Flushing Meadows this month.
Former British No. 1 and Sky Sports analyst Annabel Croft has been vocal in her assessment of the situation, expressing genuine sympathy for the young star. Croft described Raducanu as having been "unbelievably unlucky" with her injury record, noting that every time momentum appears to be building, another setback derails her progress. Croft went further, suggesting that shutting down her entire season could actually be the smartest decision available, allowing Raducanu to recover fully and secure a protected ranking ahead of a fresh start in 2027.
For those unfamiliar, a WTA protected ranking locks in a player's ranking at the time the injury was first sustained. That ranking can then be used for entry into up to eight tournaments upon return, or 12 if the absence exceeds a full year. It is a critical provision that could protect Raducanu's standing significantly.
As of early August, Raducanu had only just returned to court in a protective boot, underlining how serious the fracture has been. The past 12 months have been plagued by persistent physical setbacks, and patience from both the player and her support team will be essential.
TennisDraw users had Raducanu penciled into several deep US Open bracket runs, making this withdrawal one of the more impactful shakeups to pre-tournament predictions.
