Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the 2026 US Open due to a stress fracture in her right tibia. The 2021 champion, who stunned the tennis world by winning the title at Flushing Meadows as an 18-year-old qualifier, will not compete at the final Grand Slam of the season, which begins on August 30. The announcement was made on Monday August 3 by her team, ending any hopes of a comeback this summer.
An injury sustained during the grass-court season
The 23-year-old Briton suffered the stress fracture during the grass-court swing, which had already forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon following a thorough medical evaluation. Despite several weeks of rest and rehabilitation, her medical team advised a definitive withdrawal from the US Open to avoid worsening the injury. The risk of a complete fracture in the event of a premature return weighed heavily in the decision. Raducanu, currently ranked around world number 59, sees her 2026 season shrinking rapidly.
A season plagued by physical setbacks
This latest blow extends a grueling campaign for the Briton. Her off-season preparations were disrupted by a foot injury, followed by a post-viral illness that kept her away from the courts for over two months in the spring. Raducanu has played only a handful of tournaments since the start of the year, never finding the rhythm needed to compete at Grand Slam level. Since her historic triumph at the 2021 US Open, the Briton has never recaptured the consistency expected of her, constantly held back by physical issues that have prevented any sustained run of results.
When could she return
No comeback date has been announced. The priority remains a full recovery from the stress fracture before any return to competitive tennis. The Asian swing in October, featuring events in Beijing and Tokyo, represents the next realistic window if rehabilitation proceeds without complications. Raducanu's camp is prioritizing caution to protect the long-term future of her career, aware that repeated setbacks could permanently compromise her sporting prospects.
