Emma Raducanu raised concerns when she took a tumble on Centre Court during a crucial rally against Aryna Sabalenka. The British No. 1 saved seven set points to draw level with the top seed at 5-5 but slipped in the service box while chasing down a ball on Sabalenka’s serve. She immediately grabbed her thigh as her coach, Mark Petchey, watched on looking concerned.
Raducanu had already blown an early break lead against the three-time Major winner, losing three games in a row, and she survived a marathon service game to keep herself alive in the first set. But the 15,000 fans on Wimbledon’s biggest showcourt all held their breath when the 22-year-old fell while leading 30-0 on the Sabalenka serve.
“Now this might be a concern,” Nick Mullins said on BBC commentary as Raducanu fell near the set and Sabalenka sent a winner into the open space before racing over to check on her opponent.
“Had issues with a lower back injury for much of the year. Concern on the face of Mark Petchey and concern from Aryna Sabalenka immediately which is good to see.”
Co-commentator Tracy Austin added: “Dealing with the back spasms through the spring and all the way up to Wimbledon.
“That’s disconcerting, you start to fall on grass, it’s completely out of control.”
Raducanu went over to her bench to compose herself and get cleaned up, then returned to the baseline and immediately locked back in, creating two more break point chances on the Sabalenka serve.
The world No. 1 gave away the game with an unforced error, and Raducanu had a chance to serve out the set. But she couldn’t do it, and Sabalenka forced a tiebreak.
The Belarusian twice led by a minibreak, but Raducanu got back on serve. Sabalenka saved a set point with a drop shot winner, and she finally converted her eighth set point with a volley winner to take it 7-6(6) after 74 minutes.
Former US Open champion Raducanu will be wary of getting injured after dealing with back issues on and off for months. The world No. 40 also underwent surgeries on both of her wrists and one ankle in 2023, shutting down her season in April.
She’s since made a remarkable comeback. Ranked outside of the world’s top 300 when she returned last January, Raducanu has returned to the top 50 and, last month, she regained the British No. 1 spot for the first time in two years.
But her position as Britain’s top-ranked woman is under threat. If Raducanu loses to Sabalenka, Katie Boulter will return to British No. 1, while Sonay Kartal will be British No. 2, and Raducanu will slip into third place.
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