Andy Murray has broken his silence on Emma Raducanu’s decision to pull out of playing mixed doubles with him at Wimbledon.
Despite having an emotional sendoff on centre court after playing alongside his brother Jamie Murray, the 37-year-old was due to form a dream partnership with the 2021 US Open champion.
Raducanu had previously spoken of her desire to play doubles with Murray and she finally had the chance in his final year at Wimbledon as a player.
British tennis was buzzing with excitement to see the two team up, but 21-year-old withdrew at the eleventh hour after citing soreness in her wrist and with an eye on her fourth round singles match the following day.
How did Andy Murray react to Emma Raducanu’s decision to withdraw from Wimbledon mixed doubles?
After Raducanu withdrew from the Wimbledon mixed doubles event, that brought Murray’s playing career at the All-England Club to an end.
“Unfortunately I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist this morning, so therefore I have decided to make the very tough decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles tonight,” her statement read.
“I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but got to take care.”
Murray has now issued a response to that moment and though confirming he has not spoken to the former World number 11 since Wimbledon, he has no hard feelings towards her.
“Getting to finish playing at Wimbledon on Centre Court with my brother was unbelievably special. It is something we never experienced,” he told BBC Sport. “That wasn’t how I planned it, but that is how it ended up and I am really happy about that. I am not frustrated or bitter about it.”
Are Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu playing at the Paris Olympic Games?
Murray is set to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics in what he has confirmed will be the final tournament of his illustrious career. He will play doubles alongside Dan Evans and he has yet to decide if he will play singles.
“Every time I have come to the Olympics it feels totally different [to other tennis events] and I personally love it. For me it has been an amazing experience,” he said.
“I love being around athletes, being part of the team, representing my country. For me it has been right up there.”
Raducanu on the other hand, opted to miss the Olympics this year and turn her attentions towards preparing for the US summer hard court court swing.
“[I’m] just prioritising my body and my health because I know if I’m fit, I know if I’m giving my 100%, I know great things are happening and coming,” she said.
“I just don’t think there’s any need to put additional stress on my body or any risk, especially with my history.”
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