Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Rothesay Open in Nottingham and will not compete in the upcoming LTA grass-court events, including the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, following a medical decision to prioritize her long-term physical health. The 2021 US Open champion, who recently opted out of the 2024 French Open qualifying rounds, is focusing her recovery on a full transition to the grass-court season, specifically aiming for a return at Wimbledon in July.
Why did Emma Raducanu withdraw from the grass-court buildup?
Emma Raducanu’s decision to skip the Nottingham and Eastbourne tournaments stems from a desire to manage her physical workload after a demanding start to the clay-court season. According to reporting from the BBC, the 21-year-old athlete is following medical advice to ensure she is fully prepared for the intensity of the Grand Slam schedule. This decision marks a departure from her previous attempts to play a high volume of matches, reflecting a shift toward a more sustainable training regimen following multiple surgeries on her wrists and ankle in 2023.
How does this impact her Wimbledon participation?
By bypassing the early grass-court events, Raducanu aims to avoid the risk of re-injury while training on the surface. While she will miss the opportunity to secure ranking points at the Rothesay Open, her focus remains on the All England Club. As of June 2024, the former British number one remains on the entry list for Wimbledon. Her team’s strategy prioritizes quality of preparation over the quantity of matches played during the short three-week grass-court window, a common approach for players managing chronic injury concerns.
Key context regarding her current ranking
Raducanu currently sits outside the top 200 in the WTA rankings, a position largely due to her extended absence from the tour during her 2023 recovery period. Because her ranking does not currently grant her automatic entry into major tournaments, she relies on tournament organizers for wild-card invitations.
| Tournament | Status | Reason |
| :— | :— | :— |
| Rothesay Open (Nottingham) | Withdrawn | Medical precaution |
| Rothesay International (Eastbourne) | Withdrawn | Prioritizing recovery |
| Wimbledon | Entered | Awaiting wild-card confirmation |
What is the precedent for this recovery strategy?
Professional tennis players frequently utilize “load management” to extend their careers, particularly after major joint surgeries. Raducanu’s approach mirrors that of other Grand Slam champions who have limited their schedules to avoid the physical toll of back-to-back tournaments. By choosing to train in controlled environments rather than competing in back-to-back events, she is attempting to mirror the recovery protocols she established during her rehabilitation in 2023. Her management team has emphasized that the goal is to enter the summer hard-court swing following Wimbledon with a consistent, injury-free foundation.