Wimbledon 2021: Emma Raducanu retires from fourth-round match
- Published
Emma Raducanu called on her trainer while a set and a break down
Wimbledon 2021 on the BBC |
|---|
Venue: All England Club Dates: 28 June-11 July |
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details here |
British wildcard Emma Raducanu retired from her Wimbledon fourth-round match after suffering breathing difficulties as her dream debut came to a heartbreaking end.
The 18-year-old was trailing 4-6 0-3 to Ajla Tomljanovic when she called on a trainer.
She left the court to receive further treatment, but it was soon announced she would not be returning.
Tomljanovic will face fellow Australian Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals.
Later on Monday, Wimbledon confirmed that Raducanu retired from the match because of "difficulty breathing".
"I am really sorry for her, I wish we could have finished it. I am wishing her all the best," Tomljanovic said.
Raducanu, who was ranked 338th in the world before the tournament, had lost a tight first set and it was early in the second when she started to show signs that all was not well, frequently putting a hand to her stomach and showing hints of breathlessness.
When Tomljanovic went 3-0 up, Raducanu called on a trainer at the change of ends, with a second medic soon following and appearing to listen to her chest.
They quickly took her off court, and after only a few minutes, it was announced Raducanu was not fit to continue.
Wimbledon 2021: How British teenager Raducanu lit up the first week of Wimbledon
A sad end to a week to remember
The young Briton had enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last week at Wimbledon, her maiden Grand Slam only a month after making her WTA Tour debut.
She beat two top-50 opponents, Marketa Vondrousova and Sorana Cirstea, to reach the last 16, making her the last Briton standing in the singles draws.
Raducanu was proving to be the story of the championships, the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the prime minister, astronaut Tim Peake and musician Liam Gallagher among thousands tweeting their support.
"In so many ways this has been a life-changing week for her," former world number one Tracy Austin told BBC Sport.
"She was ranked 338 and now she's going to go into the 100s so it will make it much easier for her to play higher-level tournaments.
"She has a wonderful game as far as very athletic, a very good head on her shoulders, she seems very grounded because she has stayed in school. She has got ways to win points with weapons, she's got a terrific defence, it all looks great."
Raducanu and Tomljanovic had to wait for their meeting, the match not getting under way until 20:00 BST, owing to a five-set thriller between Alex Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime on Court One before them.
But they were welcomed on to court to a rapturous applause, the capacity of Court One - and neighbouring Centre Court - increased to 75% on Manic Monday, so-called because every men's and women's singles fourth-round match is played.
Little could separate the two once they did get going, Raducanu forced to save a break point in the second game before missing out on a break herself in the seventh as she continued to impress with her strong backhands and fine baseline strokes.
Raducanu failed to convert two further break points, before world number 75 Tomljanovic, who defeated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the previous round, capitalised on her own next break point to take the first set.
It was the first set Raducanu had dropped in the tournament, but her troubles continued as she face two break points on her opening service game of the second set, saving the first with a driving backhand down the line, but she could not save the second.
But the boisterous support in the Court One stands, cheering Raducanu's every point as though she had won a set, soon changed to concern as it became clear she was unwell.
When it was announced she had retired, the court gave Raducanu an ovation, saddened her fairytale run had to end this way.
Beckham's biggest challenge: A race to play football in all seven continents
The rise and fall of a super-influencer: A shocking true story of a con artist and her global following
