Judy Murray, mother of tennis legend Andy Murray, has expressed apparent dissatisfaction with Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal from the mixed doubles event at Wimbledon, which dashed her son’s hopes of a potential final appearance. The partnership between two of Britain’s most prominent tennis stars was highly anticipated, as fans were eager to witness Andy Murray’s swan song performance on the storied grass courts of the All England Club alongside Raducanu.
The duo was slated to compete against Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo on Saturday as the fourth match on Court One. However, just hours before their scheduled appearance, Raducanu pulled out of the competition due to a wrist issue. In a statement explaining her decision, she said, “Unfortunately, I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist this morning, so I have made the very tough decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles tonight. I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but need to take care of myself.”
Judy Murray made her disapproval known in a response on social media. In reply to broadcaster Marcus Buckland’s post expressing his disappointment over Raducanu’s withdrawal, Judy simply commented, “Yes, astonishing,” suggesting her surprise and possible frustration with the situation.
Raducanu, who is scheduled to face Lulu Sun in her fourth-round singles match on Sunday, has good reason to tread carefully. The young British player has dealt with significant physical setbacks over the past year, including surgeries on both wrists and an ankle that kept her off the court for eight months. Given her ongoing recovery, Raducanu’s caution about overexerting herself is understandable.
For fans and especially for Murray, the news was undoubtedly a letdown. His career achievements were recently honored in a special Centre Court ceremony following his loss in the men’s doubles alongside his brother, Jamie. Reflecting on his career, Murray declared, “I know that it’s time now. I’m ready for that.” He plans to take a family holiday before turning his attention to the final chapter of his professional journey, which will conclude at the Paris Olympics, where he is set to compete in both singles and doubles with Dan Evans.
Raducanu’s decision to withdraw has triggered mixed reactions. Some supporters appreciate her prioritization of health, while others are disappointed, given that the match had been agreed upon just days earlier. This sudden change also brought an end to Murray’s aspirations for a memorable last appearance at Wimbledon. For Raducanu, the timing was tricky; their mixed doubles match was set as the fourth event of the day, potentially clashing with her plans to watch England’s showdown with Switzerland.
Raducanu had previously expressed her excitement about partnering with Murray, stating, “It’s just an amazing opportunity to be able to play with him. It’s something that I’m going to cherish.” Despite her enthusiasm, there had been no indication during her press conference on Friday night that she was considering pulling out, adding to the unexpectedness of her decision.
As Raducanu moves forward in the singles competition, questions linger about her fitness and the potential impact of her wrist issue on her Wimbledon campaign. However, she remains focused on the present. After drawing inspiration from Carlos Alcaraz’s performance and securing her own victories on Centre Court, Raducanu spoke about her approach, saying, “I think staying present in the moment is what got me this far. I’m not going to start changing anything. I was able to turn some scorelines around, being 15-40. That’s the best way for me to approach it. Winning a match against a top-10 opponent on Centre Court is a beautiful feeling and one I really want to savor.”
She also acknowledged the fleeting nature of tennis, noting, “Tennis is pretty brutal in the way you have to enjoy it tonight and then tomorrow you’re already thinking about the next one. You can win the tournament but lose first round the next week. That’s the sport. I’m just trying to cherish every moment I have here.”
As Raducanu presses on with her Wimbledon journey, fans can only hope that she stays healthy and continues to make strides in her career while cherishing every victory and learning experience along the way. Meanwhile, for Andy Murray, Wimbledon 2024 may not have unfolded as hoped, but his contributions to the sport remain an enduring legacy.
I think Emma did the right thing. We all love Andy but this match was nothing really compared to what can happen for Emma. I’m sure Andy doesn’t bear a grudge like his mum has. Emma has been caught in between doing the right thing and the time now is her time to go forward in her tennis career. Bad timing really but can’t be helped x