British teenager Emma Raducanu retires from Wimbledon last-16 match after ‘difficulty breathing.
The 18-year-old was trailing 4-6 0-3 to Ajla Tomljanovic when she called on a trainer. She left the court to receive further treatment, but she soon announced she would not be returning. Tomljanovic will face fellow Australian Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals. Later on Monday, Wimbledon confirmed that Raducanu retired from the match because of "difficulty breathing".
"I am really sorry for her; I wish we could have finished it. I wish her all the best," Tomljanovic said. Raducanu, who was ranked 338th in the world before the tournament, had lost a tight first set, and it was early in the second when she started to show signs that all was not well, frequently putting a hand to her stomach and showing hints of breathlessness. When Tomljanovic went 3-0 up, Raducanu called on a trainer at the change of ends, with a second medic soon following and appearing to listen to her chest.
They quickly took her off-court, and after only a few minutes, it was announced Raducanu was not fit to continue. Young Briton had enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last week at Wimbledon, her maiden Grand Slam only a month after making her WTA Tour debut. She beat two top-50 opponents, Marketa Vondrousova and Sorana Cirstea, to reach the last 16, making her the last Briton standing in the singles draws.
Raducanu was proving to be the story of the championships, the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the prime minister, astronaut Tim Peake and musician Liam Gallagher among thousands tweeting their support." In so many ways, this has been a life-changing week for her," former world number one Tracy.
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