Emma Raducanu pulls out of tournament days before Wimbledon as boyfriend rumours swirl
Emma Raducanu pulls out of tournament days before Wimbledon as boyfriend rumours swirl
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Berlin Open next week after suffering more back issues - but is still planning to play Eastbourne the week before Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the tournament
(Image: 2025 Getty Images )
British tennis No. 1 Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the upcoming Berlin Open due to persistent back issues that resurfaced at the HSBC Championships. The blow comes two weeks before Wimbledon is dur to begin at the end of the month.
Her chances of securing a seeding at Wimbledon, if fit, are now slim, but she is hopeful to be able to participate in the Eastbourne tournament, scheduled for the week preceding the start of Wimbledon.
Raducanu first experienced back spasms in January before the Australian Open and again at the Strasbourg Open last month. During her quarter-final loss at the HSBC Championships, the 22 year old required a medical timeout for treatment and took painkillers.
In her post-match press conference, Raducanu mentioned reconsidering her entry into the WTA 500 event in Berlin. When asked if she was concerned about her fitness for Wimbledon, she responded: "I don't know" and elaborated: "It's been lingering for the last few weeks, and I have had back issues before."
She considers her back a vulnerability, acknowledging the need for proper care. While not overly concerned about the severity of the issue, Raducanu recognises it as a persistent annoyance that requires careful management, reports the Express.
Following treatment, Raducanu has officially pulled out of the Berlin Open. However, her team confirms she remains confident about participating in the WTA 250 event in Eastbourne, starting on June 23.
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The grasscourt Grand Slam at Wimbledon begins a week later on June 30.
Emma Raducanu won't be in action in Berlin
(Image: Getty )
As the world No. 37, Raducanu needed to reach the final at Queen's Club or achieve a significant run in Berlin to break into the world's top 32 by June 23 and secure a Wimbledon seeding.
However, following her straight sets loss to No. 1 seed Qinwen Zheng at Queen's Club, Raducanu stated: "I think being seeded obviously helps in Masters, helps in Slams and a lot of tournaments so you're not playing one of the top players early rounds.
"But I think maybe my goals have slightly shifted from being seeded to actually improving my game, and when I play those top players, making it closer and feeling more competitive rather than just feeling: 'Okay, I maybe get to the third round of a slam but then lose comfortably to one of the top players'. I think I'd rather have a more competitive match, even if that means losing first round, second round. I think that, to be honest, is how I feel right now."
News comes as Raducanu's personal life is also back in the headlines, amid reports on MailOnline she may be romantically involved with former tennis player Benjamin Heynold, who she has known since she was six-years-old.
Emma Raducanu and Benjamin Heynold
(Image: Emma Raducanu/ Instagram )
Heynold, 24, is a student at the the University of North Carolina and has previously represented Team GB alongside Raducanu, who he has known since she was six-years-old.
They played together in competitions across the country as juniors, including at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017. He has since quit the sport to study in America.
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The rumours come over a year after the tennis star split from boyfriend Carlo Agostinelli, who was the son of a billionaire business tycoon.
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