It was a weekend to forget for British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu, who saw her 2024 Wimbledon campaign come to an unexpected end at the hands of New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. Having levelled the fourth round match at one set apiece, an untimely slip on the Centre Court grass stopped all of Raducanu’s momentum, causing leg pain, back pain and overall discomfort for the remainder of the match, and ultimately leading to a 6-2 5-7 6-2 defeat and an early exit for the 21 year old.
This injury mid-game came just a day after Raducanu had pulled out of the Mixed Doubles event, where she was due to team up with fellow Brit Andy Murray. Wrist pain was the reason for the withdrawal from the doubles, with Raducanu citing “stiffness” in her right wrist after waking up on Saturday morning. In a nightmare few days for Raducanu, her defeat means there are now no British players left in the singles draws, for both the men’s and the ladies.
Raducanu’s Slip & Injury
Having fought back from one set down to level the match at 6-2 5-7, the crowd were lifted and the momentum was with Raducanu. However, at 15-30 on Raducanu’s serve, the game was halted to allow her to receive treatment on her leg and back. A slip on the grass caused her to tumble over, and left her laying out flat on the court. The crowd got behind the Brit after it became clear she would carry on, however she was unable to get back into her rhythm, and ultimately ended up losing her serve, before falling to a 6-2 final set defeat.
The injury initially seemed like a knee hyperextension, which is a very common injury among athletes, especially in tennis where lots of stretching and quick changes in direction are required. With Raducanu able to get back to her feet by her own accord, it is unlikely that the injury sustained to her knee was too serious though, especially considering she was able to carry on and complete the rest of the game. With mild hyperextensions, serious treatment is not a necessity, and rest, ice, and other simple treatments such as compression can often be enough to help recover quickly. For Raducanu, she was back up on the court within a couple of minutes, meaning thankfully the knee injury may have been nothing more than an impact injury, and definitely not a serious hyperextension or ligament issue.
During the medical timeout, Raducanu also received treatment to her back. She stated herself in her post-match interview that she had been “managing a stiff back since yesterday”, and that she was “feeling it during the match”. The usual treatment for mild back pain can include compression, ice, and massage therapy. While Raducanu was able to get back onto the court and complete the match, she did so having received professional medical treatment and advice. Therefore, if you are suffering from knee pain, back pain, or any other injury, we advise that you seek professional medical help before making any decisions that could cause further injury.
Despite the injuries, Raducanu said herself that Lulu Sun played the better tennis and deserved to win the match. Humble in defeat, but begging the question of what could have been had the slip not occurred. With Raducanu explaining that she had been managing back pain before, and throughout the match, the decision to take to centre court without any sort of back brace or back support could have been a costly one. Despite the treatment received on court by the physio, a sports back support belt could have made the difference for Raducanu when trying to manage the pain both throughout the game, and after the slip, as these work to provide protection, compression, pain relief and stability when taking part in physical activity.
Premature End To Andy Murray’s Wimbledon Career
Just one day prior to her Round 4 defeat, Raducanu also pulled out of the Mixed Doubles event with Andy Murray, citing “stiffness” in her right wrist as the reason. Having required surgery on that same wrist last year, this was a sensible decision by Raducanu, prioritising her health. While a wrist support for wrist pain is often a suitable option for managing wrist pain while taking part in physical activity, here at PhysioRoom we would always advise listening to your body, and if that means pulling out of an activity that is causing pain, and that could result in further damage being done, the sobeit. Even if a wrist brace helps to reduce the pain, if you do not feel comfortable, we would still advise you to take it easy and put your own health first.
The decision to pull out by Raducanu was met with some criticism from fans, as this decision unfortunately meant that Andy Murray’s Wimbledon career was over, as the Mixed Doubles was the only event he was left in. However, prioritising your own health and fitness is not something that should be criticised, and here at PhysioRoom we would advise anyone in the same position to do the same. While a wrist support or wrist splint can help manage the pain, if you still feel discomfort and are worried about causing further damage, you should not participate in the activity.
It is an unfortunate end to Murray’s Wimbledon career, however, with a history of injuries himself, including one just a few weeks ago which forced him to pull out of the Men’s singles event, he should be able to understand and support Raducanu’s difficult decision.
What Next for British Tennis?
Injuries are the talk of the town in British tennis right now. With Andy Murray forced to pull out of the Men’s singles, as well as this nightmare weekend for Raducanu, fans of British tennis are wondering when this injury crisis will end.
With the constant changes in direction, twists, turns and fast-movements required to compete in tennis, injuries are extremely common at all levels. Andy Murray’s ankle braces were a famous part of his tennis get up for years due to his history with ankle injuries on the court. Here at PhysioRoom, we advise anybody who is looking to get into tennis, or anyone who has been experiencing pain while playing before to take precautions every time you step out onto the court. With injuries becoming more and more common, it is important to look after yourself to ensure that you are able to take part in the sport you love, safely.
We have a wide range of tennis injury supports to help you manage your way through your next match, so whether you require a tennis elbow support, a knee brace, or an ankle support, make sure every serve, every return, and every game, set, and match you play, you are safe and protected from injuries with PhysioRoom.