What happened to Emma Raducanu? Why did the British tennis Wimbledon wildcard retire mid-match and how is she

Wimbledon wildcard Emma Raducanu has been the story of SW19 so far.

The rising British tennis star, who only completed her A-Levels two months ago, has defied the odds to see off higher ranked players in this year's women's draw.

Raducanu, 18, wowed the Wimbledon crowd with victories over Vitalia Diatchenko, Marketa Vondrousova, and Sorana Cirstea to set up a fourth round match with Ajla Tomljanovic.

Not bad for someone who has been on the pro tour less than a year, right?

This is what happened to Raducanu in her fourth round match, why she retired from her encounter with Ajla Tomljanovic and how the young Brit is now – in her own words.

What happened to Emma Raducanu?

Emma Raducanu faced a long wait before she could take to the grass on Court No.1 for her fourth round match at Wimbledon 2021.

Once her match with Australian Ajla Tomljanovic was called to start the roof had been closed to allow play to continue amid rain and increasing darkness.

The first set between Raducanu and Tomljanovic was an even contest, with the young Brit settling into her rhythm before her opponent got the edge to take it 6-4.

Raducanu embraced the big occasion, roaring on the Wimbledon crowd with some fine play against the higher ranked Australian who cemented her advantage in the second.

Tomljanovic went into a 3-0 lead in the second set as Raducanu looked to be struggling to catch her breath, often turning to her towel in between points before calling for medical attention.

Why did Emma Raducanu retire from Wimbledon?

Following the conclusion of the third game of the second set of Emma Raducanu's fourth round match with Ajla Tomljanovic, the young Brit sought medical attention on court.

The two medics tended to Raducanu for a few minutes before all three went off court so 18-year-old world number 338 could receive further assessment from doctors.

A Wimbledon towel draped over her shoulders as she walked off court followed by the two medics who had given her an initial assessment court side.

After the assessment had been completed, the umpire received a message that Raducanu was not going to be able to continue the match for medical reasons.

How is Emma Raducanu now?

Emma Raducanu is "okay" and "going to be fine" after retiring from her fourth round match at Wimbledon, former British number one Anne Keothavong has said.

Keothavong was sat near the teenager's parents during the match against Ajla Tomljanovic and told BBC Breakfast this morning (Tuesday 6 July) that Raducanu will be "just fine".

"She’s okay," said Keothavong. "She is going to be fine. I saw her leave the club last night. It was a difficult situation for her to be in but she will be just fine.

“In terms of her preparation, they did everything possible. They did everything they could to prepare her. It was also going to be a difficult match given the hype around it but it has been a great Wimbledon debut.

"It is a lot to take in. She is still very young and this is all very new. She has good people around her, she is a sensible young girl. She has had a fabulous Wimbledon, it is just a shame that it had to end like this, but she will be stronger for it.”

What did Ajla Tomljanovic say?

Following confirmation of Emma Raducanu's withdrawal from Wimbledon, opponent Ajla Tomljanovic conducted the post-match interview on Court No.1.

A sympathetic Tomljanovic said: "I am actually shocked because Emma must be hurt if she came to the decision to retire.

"I am really sorry for her, I wish we could have finished it. I am wishing her all the best. I thought I found my groove although Emma was hurt and not at her best which kind of explains it.

"It didn't really sink in that I'm in the quarters because of the circumstances. I am thrilled to play Ash, and to have two Aussies in the quarter-finals is great for everyone back home."

What has Emma Raducanu said since retiring from Wimbledon 2021?

In a Twitter post, Emma Raducanu addressed her forced withdrawal from Wimbledon 2021 on medical advice and said she was "feeling much better this morning".

It read: "First up, I want to congratulate Ajla [Tomljanovic] on an incredible performance and I'm sorry our match ended the way it did. I was playing the best tennis of my life in front of an amazing crowd this week and I think the whole experience caught up with me.

"At the end of the first set, after some super intense rallies, I started to breathe heavily and felt dizzy. The medical team advised me not to continue and although it felt like the hardest thing in the world not to be able to finish my Wimbledon on the court, I was not well enough to carry on.

"I want to thank the people who have cheered me on every single match, I wanted to win so badly for you! I also want to thank the All England Club, my team, the LTA, my parents and friends. Last night will go a long way to helping me learn what it takes to perform at the top. I will cherish everything we have achieved together this wee and come back stronger! Can't wait to see what's next on my journey. Emma"