Andy Murray’s mother, Judy Murray, has expressed her discontent over Emma Raducanu’s decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles event at Wimbledon, which has dashed hopes for a final appearance by Murray at the All England Club.
There was significant excitement surrounding the prospect of Britain’s top two tennis stars teaming up for what many hoped would be a memorable finale for Murray at Wimbledon. The pair was set to compete against Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo in the fourth match on Court One on Saturday. However, Raducanu pulled out just hours before the match was scheduled to begin.
Raducanu announced her withdrawal with a statement: “Unfortunately, I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist this morning, so I’ve 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 I need to take care.”
Judy Murray’s response to the news was terse and notable. After broadcaster Marcus Buckland expressed his disappointment over Raducanu’s decision on social media, Judy Murray supported his sentiment with a brief but pointed reaction on X: “Yes, astonishing.”
Raducanu is scheduled to play her fourth-round singles match against Lulu Sun on Sunday. Given her recent history of injuries—she underwent surgery on both wrists and one ankle last year, which kept her out of competition for eight months—she is understandably cautious about pushing her body too hard.
The cancellation is a blow not only to Murray’s fans but also to Murray himself. The former world number one’s career was celebrated on Centre Court earlier in the week following a first-round men’s doubles defeat with his brother Jamie. Murray has since declared his readiness to retire, planning a family holiday before making his final competitive appearance at the Paris Olympics, where he will compete in both singles and doubles with Dan Evans.
Raducanu’s decision has sparked criticism, particularly as it came shortly after she had agreed to partner with Murray. The mixed doubles match was scheduled fourth on Court One, and Raducanu had previously expressed concerns about the timing conflicting with England’s match against Switzerland.
In her press conference on Friday, Raducanu had not indicated any intention to withdraw from the mixed doubles. This unforeseen withdrawal has led to concerns about her wrist injury potentially affecting her singles performance. Despite the setback, Raducanu remains focused on her current singles campaign, emphasizing her intention to stay present and not get ahead of herself. She acknowledged the highs and lows of tennis, reflecting on the importance of cherishing each moment while navigating the unpredictable nature of the sport.
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