Emma Raducanu’s Wimbledon journey came to an unfortunate end as she was hindered by a back injury during the decisive set of her fourth-round match against New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun. The British wildcard, aged 21, lost 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a gripping contest on Centre Court.
Raducanu managed to level the match after an impressive second set, showing signs of regaining her confidence. However, an inspired performance from Sun had set a challenging pace. The turning point came when Raducanu slipped on the baseline during the first game of the third set.
Staying down on the grass, Raducanu shook her head before getting back up. The game paused at 15-30 on her serve, and she received on-court treatment for her hip and back. The crowd roared in support as she resumed play, but Raducanu lost her serve immediately and struggled to recover from the break.
This defeat means the world number 135 missed the chance to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in her career.
Sun, 23, was visibly emotional after securing her place in the last eight, marking only her second Grand Slam main-draw appearance. “I had to fight tooth and nail because she will still run for every ball and fight until the end,” Sun said. “I don’t have the words right now.”
Despite the setback, Raducanu’s resilience and determination were evident, and she remains a formidable competitor on the Grand Slam stage.
