British tennis hit by double withdrawal as Raducanu and Draper pull out of Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu, the British No. 1 and former US Open champion, withdrew from Wimbledon on 28 June 2026 after a scan revealed a stress fracture in her right lower leg. The same day Jack Draper, Britain’s top male prospect and former world No. 4, announced a withdrawal due to a recurrence of an arm injury, ending his slated first‑round match against Taylor Fritz. Their exits left the All England Club without its two highest‑profile British players.

The injuries added to a disastrous start for home players: Katie Boulter, Britain’s next hope, was beaten in the first round by qualifier Tyra Caterina Grant, becoming the 11th Briton eliminated on day 2. Only Katie Swan managed a win, defeating Irina‑Camelia Begu to give the crowd a rare home victory. The string of withdrawals and early defeats underscores a severe setback for British tennis at the 2026 Championships.

Wimbledon’s draw now proceeds without its leading British stars, and the British Lawn Tennis Association faces renewed scrutiny over player fitness and wildcard allocations.