Emma Raducanu exited the Eastbourne tournament with visible discomfort, casting significant doubt over her preparations for Wimbledon.
The British No. 1 and former US Open champion was defeated in the second round by Australian Maya Joint with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.
However, the main concern just days before her campaign at the All England Club begins was Raducanu`s apparent ongoing struggle with her fitness.
The 22-year-old has been bothered by a series of back issues in recent weeks.
This problem seemed to affect her again, leading to a number of unforced errors, particularly on her weaker forehand.
Midway through the deciding set, Raducanu was seen leaning forward in her chair during a changeover, with a towel draped over her waist.
Raducanu had appeared tearful after her first-round victory against Ann Li, although she attributed that reaction to a “private” matter.
But as her error count increased under the bright sun, it became evident that this latest issue appeared to be a significant physical problem.
Raducanu hesitated or stopped running on several points, allowing world No. 53 Joint to seize the opportunity for a major upset.
She looked towards her coach, Mark Petchey, with an expression suggesting a mix of distress and frustration.
Something was clearly amiss, as Raducanu was observed holding her back behind the baseline after hitting another shot into the net.
Despite the difficulties, she displayed remarkable resilience, breaking the increasingly nervous Joint`s serve three times in a row when Joint was serving for the match at 5-2, managing to force a tie-break.
However, the 19-year-old Joint regained her composure in the tie-break after Raducanu misjudged a drop shot, sealing her victory with an ace to win the breaker 7-4 after a match lasting two hours and 33 minutes.
The critical question now is regarding Raducanu`s physical condition when she arrives at Wimbledon next week.
