Emma Raducanu crashes OUT of Wimbledon to qualifier just one day after withdrawing from mixed doubles with Andy Murray

EMMA RADUCANU was knocked out of Wimbledon – the last Brit to exit the two singles draws – following a painful slip on Centre Court.

A 6-2 5-7 6-2 defeat to Lulu Sun in the Last 16 means Raducanu’s hopes of winning the title will have to be deferred until next year.

Rex

Emma Raducanu is OUT of Wimbledon[/caption]

PA

The Brit suffered a heavy fall during the third set[/caption]

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Raducanu received a lengthy medical time out[/caption]

Getty

Lulu Sun celebrates the biggest win of her career[/caption]

After doing so well to level up at 1-1 with the New Zealand qualifier, the Brit crashed to the floor while retrieving a shot at the baseline in game one of the third set.

Instantly, she mouthed “not good” to her team and she took a three-minute medical timeout to try to resolve or soften the problem.

The physio examined her left ankle – the one which she had surgery on in May 2023 – and knee before massaging her lower back, which she had been touching and stretching during the second set.

To her credit, she went back out on court, played through the pain barrier, hit some excellent forehand winners and decided not to retire when she could have easily done so.

Sun, who is making her debut this year in the main draw, went about her business stoically and stayed strong after an immediate break of serve despite tightening up in the final game.

At two hours and 50 minutes, this was the longest match of Raducanu’s career in Wimbledon whites but one day she will hope for a break and no physical disadvantage.

Since winning the US Open three years ago, she has been plagued with a long list of injuries and physical setbacks and this was an untimely reminder of how fragile her frame is.

The Kent player can now spend some time resting at home after deciding to snub a spot with Team GB at the Paris Olympics in favour of the US hardcourt swing.

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EPA

Qualifier Sun won five matches to reach this stage[/caption]

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The former US Open champion struggled in her Wimbledon fourth round clash[/caption]

Raducanu, who is not used to playing on Sundays, had been trying to become the seventh British woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the Open Era.

A path trod by the likes of Sue Barker, Jo Durie, Ann Jones, Jo Konta, Virginia Wade and Winnie Woolridge.

Her departure means there are no British players left in the singles competitions despite 19 starting in the first rounds.

The decision on Saturday to withdraw from a Box Office pairing with Andy Murray to rest her stiff wrist and prioritise solo action divided opinion among tennis circles.

Some critics, like Judy Murray, thought it was an “astonishing” decision to pull out so late, especially as she had agreed to the combo in the first place.

Others felt we should all cut her some slack, given that the 21-year-old had double wrist surgery 14 months ago and there was £2.7million on the line this fortnight.

But the fact she was able to survive as long as she did only justified to her supporters the call not to play the hit-and-giggle contest with the retiring Scotsman.

Had she ended up playing so late in the night, then it is likely she would have probably gone down in straight sets to Sun, who is having the run of her life.

PA

Raducanu took on New Zealander Sun on Centre Court[/caption]