Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this year’s Wimbledon on the eve of the tournament through injury.
It comes mere hours after the British No1 had told reporters that she was doing everything possible to play her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic, which had been scheduled first on Court No1 on Monday.
Raducanu, 23, was seen as a real injury concern in the build-up to the Championships, having been seen with heavy strapping on her right leg as she practised on Saturday with Anna Kalinskaya.
She was forced to curtail her session 10 minutes early, losing all four practice games that she played, and looking in considerable discomfort as she did so.
On Sunday, however, things were looking more positive. She was hitting the ball more confidently, despite not moving as much, and in her pre-tournament press conference, she had said that she was planning to play against Ruzic in her opening match.
That is now not the case, with the 30th seed taking to Instagram to announce her last-minute withdrawal.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but sadly I’ve had to withdraw from this year’s Wimbledon,” she began.
"I've done everything possible to try to get to the start line, but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I've been managing has developed into a stress fracture, and I've been medically advised to stop pushing through.
“Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process.
“I want to thank you all for the support and encouragement. Especially at a time like this. It is invaluable. I look forward to seeing you when I’m back.”
Raducanu’s grass-court preparation had looked strong with her run to the final at Queen’s Club, including when she won both her quarter-final and semi-final on the same day after a rain delay in west London.
She decided against playing at the Nottingham Open the following week - where she was down on the entry list - and she declined a wildcard at the Eastbourne Open, instead taking straight to the All England Club to prepare for Wimbledon.
The Briton could have had the chance to exact her revenge on world No1 Aryna Sabalenka, who beat her in a thrilling third-round encounter last year, had she reached the same stage again at this year’s Championships.
© The Standard Ltd