Emma Raducanu Faces Wimbledon Fitness Concerns After Queen’s Club Back Scare

Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British No. 1, provided an alarming update on her fitness ahead of Wimbledon (June 30-July 13, 2025) following a back injury flare-up during her Queen’s Club Championships quarter-final loss to top seed Qinwen Zheng on June 13. Raducanu, who fell 6-2, 6-4, required a medical timeout for back treatment and took painkillers after dropping the first set, per Manchester Evening News. Post-match, she admitted uncertainty about her Wimbledon readiness, stating, “I don’t know… I’m not overly concerned that it’s something serious,” but noted her back issues, ongoing since a spasm in Strasbourg before the French Open, have worsened after five matches at Queen’s, including doubles, per Manchester Evening News.

Raducanu’s plans to compete in Berlin’s WTA 500 event next week, crucial for securing a Wimbledon seeding (she’s currently No. 36, needing top 32), are now in doubt. “I need to see how it settles over the next few hours,” she said, per Manchester Evening News. Despite the setback, her grass-court campaign showed promise, with straight-set wins over Cristina Bucsa (6-1, 6-2) and Rebecca Sramkova (6-4, 6-1), reclaiming the British No. 1 ranking from Katie Boulter, per BBC. However, her loss to Zheng, marked by a controversial practice serve during a delay, cost her momentum, per Express.

Raducanu’s history of back spasms, also noted before the Australian Open and after a 2024 Wimbledon fall, raises concerns, per LTA. She remains optimistic, managing the issue with coaches Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, but emphasized “proper and careful management” is needed, per @TimesSport. Fans on X, like @RaducanuNews, expressed worry after her earlier Queen’s back spasm admission, per @RaducanuNews. With Wimbledon looming, Raducanu’s recovery timeline is critical for her home Grand Slam hopes.