Emma Raducanu to cheer for Anett Kontaveit at Wimbledon with Brit to skip event
Emma Raducanu teaches tennis lesson from 4,000 miles away – via first-of-its-kind live 5G hologram
Emma Raducanu has suggested that she will be cheering for Anett Kontaveit to win her first and only Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, which will mark the 27-year-old’s last tournament before retiring from professional tennis. Kontaveit suddenly announced on Tuesday that she will be forced to stop playing after Wimbledon due to a persistent back problem, which will prevent her from competing at the very highest levels of the sport.
Kontaveit confirmed the news via Instagram with a brief post, which read: “After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back. This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition. Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field.”
She also stated that Wimbledon would be her final tournament, prompting Raducanu to declare her support for the Estonian player in a response to her original post. Raducanu will not feature at the All England Club this year after undergoing surgery on her hands and ankles earlier this month, while she could also miss the US Open two years on from her impressive triumph at Flushing Meadows.
The Brit shared Kontaveit’s post to her Instagram story and responded with a sad face emoji, followed by a red heart. Several other players also underlined their support for Kontaveit in the comments, with former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki posting: “Sorry to see you go this way. Congrats on a brilliant career. Everybody will be cheering for you at Wimbledon.”
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Kontaveit has won six singles titles throughout her career, including three at WTA 500 level, including her most recent tournament victory in St Petersburg in February last year. She peaked at a career-high ranking of No 2 shortly afterwards, while her best Grand Slam performance came in 2020 when she reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
It would be a major surprise for Kontaveit to give herself the perfect end to her tennis career by winning Wimbledon, although it seems clear that she will be the popular choice among her fellow professionals. She was knocked out of the French Open in the first round after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Bernarda Pera, a result which marked her seventh loss in 10 matches since the turn of the year.
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Kontaveit confirmed in her statement that she will be giving everything at Wimbledon as she looks to make the most of her final Grand Slam appearance, adding: “Tennis has given and taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that.
“It has been important to me to bring the Estonian flag to the tennis courts and to be able to play in front of my supporters and fans all over the world. I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player, to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon.”
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