LONDON — Emma Raducanu fought back tears as she opened up about the emotional toll of her Wimbledon exit, admitting she struggled to find positives after a heartbreaking second-round defeat to qualifier Lulu Sun. The 2021 US Open champion, who received a wildcard entry this year, fell 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a grueling match that left her visibly distraught during her post-match press conference.
Raducanu, now ranked No. 135 after multiple injury setbacks, described the loss as particularly painful given her triumphant return to the All England Club following wrist and ankle surgeries. "It's tough right now to see the positives," she admitted, her voice cracking. "I put everything into this, and to come up short hurts more than I can explain."
A Rollercoaster Match
The match saw dramatic momentum shifts, with Raducanu surrendering a 4-2 lead in the second set before mounting a comeback to force a decider. However, Sun's powerful left-handed game proved too much in the third set. Key moments included:
- Raducanu's 12 double faults, including three in the final game
- A 15-minute medical timeout for Sun in the second set
- Raducanu winning just 38% of second-serve points
When asked about her emotional reaction, Raducanu said, "This tournament means everything to me. I grew up dreaming of Centre Court, and when you give your all and fall short, the pain is real. I'm human—it's okay to feel that."
The Road to Recovery
Physical Challenges
The 21-year-old has endured three surgeries since her historic Flushing Meadows triumph, with her ranking plummeting from World No. 10. She revealed the extent of her rehabilitation:
- 8 months unable to hold a racket after wrist surgery
- 3 months in a walking boot for ankle procedures
- Complete rebuild of her service motion
"People don't see the 5 AM gym sessions or the lonely rehab days," Raducanu shared. "When you work that hard, losses cut deeper. But I know this is part of the journey back."
Mental Battles
The former champion spoke candidly about the psychological impact of her injuries and subsequent criticism. "There were days I questioned if I'd ever play at this level again," she confessed. "The noise from outside... it's been loud. But today proved I still belong here, even if the result didn't go my way."
Support From the Tennis World
Several figures rallied behind Raducanu after her emotional exit:
- Andy Murray tweeted: "The way Emma fought shows her champion mentality."
- Judy Murray praised her "incredible resilience through adversity"
- Billie Jean King noted "Comebacks take time. She's got the goods."
Coach Nick Cavaday, who reunited with Raducanu this season, offered perspective: "Six months ago, we weren't sure she'd play Wimbledon at all. Today she pushed a qualifier playing the match of her life to the limit. That's progress, even if it doesn't feel like it tonight."
Looking Ahead
Raducanu confirmed she'll next compete at the WTA 250 event in Washington before potentially playing the US Open series. "This isn't the end of my story," she vowed. "The pain today will fuel me. I know my best tennis is still ahead." With protected ranking provisions available, the 2021 champion could still gain direct entry to Flushing Meadows, setting up an emotional return to the site of her greatest triumph.