Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will each receive £40,000 in prize money from Wimbledon despite pulling out of the tournament before their first-round matches due to injuries. The payout comes under the Grand Slam Injury Protection Programme, which awards half of the first-round loser's prize money to players who withdraw before the tournament begins.
Raducanu announced her withdrawal on Sunday night, citing a stress fracture that developed from a persistent niggle. She had been managing the injury in the build-up to the Grand Slam but was unable to recover in time to play. She was due to face Antonia Ruzic in her opening match but has been replaced in the draw by lucky loser Darja Semenistaja. Draper followed suit on Monday afternoon, just 24 hours before his blockbuster first-round clash with Taylor Fritz. He explained that he had suffered a recurrence of the arm injury that ruled him out for the majority of the previous season.
How the Injury Protection Programme Works
Under the Grand Slam Injury Protection Programme, players who withdraw due to injury before their first match receive half of the first-round prize money. At Wimbledon this year, opening match losers are paid £80,000, meaning Raducanu and Draper will each take home £40,000 without hitting a single ball. However, that amount is less than a third of what they would have received by reaching the second round, where the prize money jumps to £126,000.
Total Prize Money at Wimbledon
A total fund of £64.2 million is available at Wimbledon this year, a 20 per cent increase compared to 2025, with £3.6 million going to each of the singles champions. The injured duo will each receive £40,000 despite not playing a single point.
Statements from the Players
Announcing her withdrawal on Sunday night, Raducanu said: "I can't believe I'm saying this but sadly I've had to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon. I've done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I've been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I've been medically advised to stop pushing through."
Draper followed up with a statement of his own on Monday, which read: "Devastated to share that I have had to withdraw from my first round match due to a recurrence of my arm injury. There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon. I will continue to persevere through this. Thank you for the support."
