sport news Rafa Nadal will play at Wimbledon but Emma Raducanu is a major doubt after ... trends now
Slowly the field for what will be a highly unusual Wimbledon is taking shape — Rafael Nadal is becoming very much a probable, while Emma Raducanu slips more towards the possible category.
Nadal all but announced his participation on Friday, but Raducanu was confirmed as missing next week’s Rothesay International at Eastbourne due to the side strain she is struggling to shift.
It means that, at best, the US Open champion will go into SW19 lacking competitive grass-court matches. Just the seven games that were managed at Nottingham were banked before she was forced to retire with her latest ailment.
Rafael Nadal all but confirmed his place in Wimbledon while speaking in Mallorca on Friday
Emma Raducanu faces a race against time to be fit as she struggles with a side strain
Raducanu, 19, is said to have practised on Wednesday and Thursday at Wimbledon, but was still experiencing discomfort that is particularly hindering her service motion.
Side strains, commonly seen among bowlers in cricket, can be easily exacerbated and require cautious recovery. While it had initially looked hopeful that Raducanu could get back on the match court quickly, she will need monitoring next week ahead of Friday’s draw.
She will be desperate to play, but it cannot be guaranteed that she will be in it. The fact that she cannot defend the ranking points gleaned from reaching last year’s fourth round also takes away an element of urgency to make it to the All England Club.
Raducanu retired from the Nottingham Open and has now confirmed she won't be playing in next week's Rothesay International event in Eastbourne ahead of Wimbledon
Nadal spoke on Friday in his native Mallorca and, while stopping short of absolutely confirming his presence, everything is in place.
After winning the French Open he told of how he would be having treatment to deaden the nerves in his troublesome foot, while ruling out taking any more of the pain-killing injections that numbed it completely for Paris.
He feels well enough
