Emma Raducanu faced a significant injury scare during her thrilling third-round match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on July 4, 2025, at Wimbledon’s Centre Court, ultimately losing 7-6(8-6), 6-4. As reported by *The Express* and posts on X, such as @DExpress_Sport, Raducanu slipped on the grass during a grueling 13-minute service game in the first set, where she saved seven set points to level at 5-5. The fall, described as leaving her “helpless” on court, prompted immediate concern, with @LeeDForster noting fears of a severe injury, though she continued playing without a medical timeout, per *The Athletic*.[]
Raducanu, ranked No. 40, had been managing a recurring back injury throughout the 2025 season, which forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open and contributed to a loss at Eastbourne, per *GB News*. She admitted to ongoing back spasms, treated with acupuncture and tablets, but insisted on competing at Wimbledon, saying, “I will step on the court regardless,” per *Wales Online*. Despite the scare, Raducanu showed resilience, breaking Sabalenka again after the fall and pushing the set to a tiebreak, where she lost 8-6. In the second set, she led 4-1 and had points for 5-1 and 5-2, but Sabalenka’s power (10 winners per set average) and a crucial break at 4-4 sealed Raducanu’s defeat, per *The Standard*.[]
Sabalenka praised Raducanu’s “incredible tennis,” predicting a top-10 return, per *BBC Sport*. Raducanu’s performance, with a 7.8 forehand shot quality and 51% steal score, was among her best since her 2021 US Open win, per *The Telegraph*. However, the injury scare, coupled with her 1-9 record against top-five players, underscores ongoing physical and competitive challenges, per *The Guardian*. Her next focus is the US Open, where she aims to build on this promising, yet heartbreaking, Wimbledon run.[
