Emma Raducanu's preparations for Wimbledon have taken an anxious turn after the British number one missed a practice session on Thursday, just days before the tournament gets underway on Monday.
While attention had initially focused on a left thigh problem, visible from the strapping she wore after slipping in the Queen's Club quarter-finals, sources now suggest a shin issue on her right leg is the more pressing worry this week. Raducanu was reportedly spotted leaving the All England Club on Wednesday wearing an orthopaedic boot, raising alarm among her supporters.
The 23-year-old had only recently rediscovered her best form after a difficult stretch that saw her fail to win a match since early March, partly due to a viral illness that forced her to sit out multiple events. Her run to the Queen's Club final, where she fell to Croatia's Donna Vekic after five matches in a single week, marked a hugely encouraging return to competitive tennis. Speaking after that defeat, Raducanu acknowledged she had been managing various physical niggles, describing the heavy match load as "a great problem to have."
Her management of the grass-court swing has been carefully calculated: she bypassed both Nottingham and Eastbourne entirely, opting instead to train at the All England Club. She was seen on court as recently as Monday, which offered some reassurance, but Thursday's absence has reignited concern.
Seeded 30th at this year's Wimbledon, Raducanu will discover her first-round opponent when the draw is held on Friday. Whether she lines up on Monday remains the big question hovering over British tennis this week.
TennisDraw users have been closely tracking Raducanu's draw placement, with many bracket picks hinging on her fitness status ahead of the opening round.
