Emma Raducanu has sparked fresh concern over her fitness ahead of the US Open after being pictured continuing her training sessions while wearing an orthopedic boot during a recovery break in the Swiss Alps.
The British No.1 described her luxury getaway as the “best reset ever” after spending time at the Grand Hotel Suvretta House in St Moritz, but images of her practising in the protective footwear have left supporters questioning whether she will be fully prepared for the final Grand Slam of the season.
Injury Setback Disrupts Raducanu’s Promising 2026 Campaign
Raducanu’s 2026 season has been a mixture of encouraging performances and frustrating setbacks.
After battling through a post-viral illness that disrupted her clay-court schedule, the former US Open champion found renewed form on grass.
The 23-year-old enjoyed one of her strongest runs of the year at Queen’s Club, reaching the final before narrowly losing to Donna Vekic.
However, her momentum was quickly halted when she suffered a grade-four stress fracture following the tournament.
The injury forced Raducanu to miss Wimbledon, denying her the opportunity to compete at her home Grand Slam and continue building on her improved grass-court form.
Swiss Alps Retreat Provides Recovery Time but Training Images Concern Fans
During her stay in Switzerland, Raducanu enjoyed the facilities of the five-star Grand Hotel Suvretta House, a luxury resort known for its fitness programmes, tennis facilities, spa services and access to alpine trails.
The British star shared breathtaking views from the property overlooking Lake Sils, calling the trip an important opportunity to recharge mentally and physically.
However, footage showing Raducanu practising her serve while still wearing an orthopedic boot has raised questions about her recovery timeline.
The training session took place on the hotel’s clay courts, adding uncertainty over whether she will be ready for the demands of a hard-court Grand Slam.
Previously, Raducanu posted a light-hearted video of herself serving while wearing the boot, joking that she was not “in the bin” but practising “on the bin” after using a rubbish bin as support.
Ranking Pressure Builds Before Flushing Meadows Return
Raducanu’s injury absence has also affected her position in the WTA rankings.
Missing Wimbledon meant she lost the points she earned from reaching the third round of the tournament in the previous year.
Her ranking situation could become more challenging during the US hard-court swing, where she has points to defend from strong performances in 2025.
Currently ranked No.49 in the world, Raducanu faces the possibility of dropping outside the top 50.
She could also lose her status as Britain’s leading female player, with Katie Boulter sitting only 20 points behind her.
Without enough ranking protection, Raducanu may enter the US Open without a seeded position, potentially facing a difficult opening-round opponent.
Hard-Court Preparation Remains a Race Against Time
Before her injury setback, Raducanu had shown signs of improvement on hard courts, reaching the semi-finals in Washington, the third round in Montreal and the second round in Cincinnati during the 2025 season.
Those results demonstrated her ability to compete strongly on the surface, but her current fitness concerns leave her with limited preparation time before a possible return to Flushing Meadows.
With less than a month before the tournament begins, Raducanu’s team will have to carefully manage her recovery while ensuring she regains enough match sharpness to compete at the highest level.
Jack Draper’s Injury Battle Mirrors Raducanu’s Struggles
Raducanu is not the only British tennis star dealing with injury problems ahead of the US Open.
Fellow Briton Jack Draper has also faced a difficult recovery period after suffering setbacks during his attempted comeback.
The 24-year-old, who entered last year’s US Open ranked No.5 in the world, missed Wimbledon and later withdrew from the Mubadala DC Open in Washington as he continued managing his condition.
Draper, now ranked No.147, has urged patience while he works through a complicated injury situation under the guidance of coach Andy Murray.
The British player explained that his recovery requires more than simple rest, saying his team is working carefully to ensure he returns properly rather than rushing the process.
Raducanu’s US Open Hopes Depend on Recovery Progress
Emma Raducanu’s Swiss escape may have provided valuable mental relief after a challenging period, but her continued use of an orthopedic boot highlights the uncertainty surrounding her US Open participation.
The former champion will now focus on regaining full fitness and building enough confidence to compete against the world’s best players once again.
With her ranking, seeding and tournament hopes all potentially affected, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether she can make a successful return in New York.
