Emma Raducanu defended her controversial decision which ended Andy Murray’s Wimbledon career by withdrawing from their mixed doubles match on the eve of her fourth round singles defeat against Lulu Sun. Raducanu was scheduled to play with former Wimbledon champion Murray on Saturday, but opted to pull out of the tie due to a stiff wrist. The 2021 US Open champion wanted to avoid aggravating the problem prior to Sunday’s 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 loss to New Zealand qualifier Sun on Centre Court.

But the move provoked criticism as it shattered Murray’s hopes of one last appearance at the All England Club.

The two-time Wimbledon champion was unable to play the men’s singles as he was not fully recovered from surgery on spinal cyst, while he lost in the first round of the men’s doubles alongside brother Jamie.

Murray was said to be disappointed by Raducanu’s withdrawal, while the former world number one’s mother Judy described the move as “astonishing” on X, although she later claimed she was being sarcastic and understood the 21-year-old’s decision.

Asked if she regretted the move that ruined Murray’s Wimbledon farewell, Raducanu said: “Yesterday morning I just woke up with stiffness. I have to prioritise myself, my singles and my body.

“Of course, I didn’t want to take his last match away from him. But at the end of the day I think a lot of the players in a similar situation would have done the same thing, prioritising their body.

“I stand by the decision. Yeah, obviously it was a tough decision, though.”

Murray is now set to play for the last time in his career at the Paris Olympics, which start in later in July.

‘Put myself first’

“People are entitled to their opinions. Of course, there was a bit of a cloud around the decision,” she said.

“I think in this sport especially, as an individual, you have to make your own calls and prioritise yourself. Especially with my history, I just had to put myself first.

“Obviously disappointed because it’s his last match. But, yeah, what a champion. I think that hopefully he’ll play in the Olympics and have another farewell there.”

Responding to Murray’s mother, Raducanu added: “I haven’t seen her reaction, so I don’t know. Was she sarcastic? I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

Raducanu had come into Wimbledon in good form after a dismal period since her fairytale triumph as an 18-year-old at the US Open.

But she still needed a wildcard to enter the singles after falling out of the top 100, making it hard for her to imagine the eventual schedule conflict between the singles and mixed doubles.

“I think going into the tournament, I wasn’t expecting to make fourth round. So for me it was a no-brainer. I would have loved to have played with him,” she said.

“He didn’t ask me, ‘If you’re still in the singles, are you going to play?’ That was never a question to be answered.”

Ironically, Raducanu was troubled by other injuries in her loss to Sun, as back and ankle problems played a role in her last 16 exit.

Despite the frustrating end to her Wimbledon run, Raducanu has finally rediscovered her passion for the sport.

“Honestly, it just makes me more determined. I think I really put myself first in the last few weeks. Tennis is the only thing that is really occupying my time, my mind. It’s all I want to do really,” she said.

“I think that desire and fire is back. I just want to keep building on that.”

Andy Murray’s iconic Wimbledon career ended with a whimper on Saturday when his mixed doubles partner Emma Raducanu pulled out of the event, denying the former champion one last appearance at the All England Club. Murray was due to have a final Wimbledon swansong with fellow Briton Raducanu after losing in the men’s doubles with his brother Jamie on Thursday. The 37-year-old is set to retire following the Paris Olympics, which start on July 26. Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, and Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021, were scheduled to play Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo in the fourth match on Court One on Saturday. But Raducanu withdrew several hours before the match in a bid to ensure she did not aggravate a wrist problem.

“Unfortunately I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist, so therefore I have decided to make the very tough decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles tonight,” she said in a statement.

“I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but got to take care.”

Murray was reportedly disappointed to be denied one more match on the Wimbledon grass.

Writing on X, Murray’s mother Judy described the news that Raducanu had pulled out as “astonishing”.

Murray produced some of the most memorable moments in recent Wimbledon history, leaving a legacy that the Princess of Wales was quick to salute on Saturday.

“An incredible Wimbledon career comes to an end. You should be so very proud Andy Murray. On behalf of all of us, thank you! C,” she wrote on X.

Murray became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years when he beat Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final.

Emulating Fred Perry’s success was a cathartic moment for Murray after his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final 12 months earlier.

He erased that tear-stained defeat by beating Federer to win a gold medal in the London Olympics at Wimbledon just weeks later.

Murray lifted the Wimbledon trophy again in 2016, defeating Milos Raonic in the final to clinch what would prove to be the last Grand Slam title of his career.

Playing in a golden era for men’s tennis, Murray — who reached 11 Slam finals — was denied more silverware due to Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s stranglehold on the sport’s major prizes.

Injuries also played a major role in the former world number one’s decline in recent years.

After having a metal hip inserted in 2019, suffering ankle damage and undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his spine — which ruled him out of the singles at this year’s Wimbledon — Murray has been on a farewell tour of the grass-court Grand Slam.

Murray and brother Jamie were defeated 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 by Rinky Hijikata and John Peers of Australia in the first round of men’s doubles.

The Scot, a three-time Grand Slam winner, was given an emotional Centre Court send-off in front of his wife Kim and two of his children following that defeat.

He gave a tearful on-court interview in which he insisted there would be no change of heart about his decision to retire imminently.

“I know that it’s time now. I’m ready for that,” he said.

Murray will head off on a family holiday before preparing for the final event of his career at the Olympics, where he is entered in the singles event and the doubles with Dan Evans.

After beating ninth seed Maria Sakkari on Friday, Raducanu is due to play New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun in the Wimbledon fourth round on Sunday.

She is aiming to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time since her remarkable run at the US Open three years ago.

Raducanu, who has struggled with injuries since her triumph in New York, was seen practising at the All England Club on Saturday prior to the announcement of her mixed doubles withdrawal.

She had said the scheduling “was not ideal” after her mixed doubles match with Murray was given a late slot on Saturday, which would have offered little recovery time before facing Sun in the singles.

Andy Murray in tears after losing his Wimbledon first round men’s doubles match.© AFP

Andy Murray was given an emotional tribute after his final Wimbledon tournament started with a men’s doubles defeat as long-time rival Novak Djokovic came through a testing workout on Thursday. British two-time Wimbledon champion Murray, playing alongside brother Jamie, went down 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 to John Peers and Rinky Hijikata to the bitter disappointment of a partisan Centre Court crowd. Murray, the Wimbledon champion in 2013 and 2016, was entered in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles at the All England Club after running out of time to be fit for the singles following recent back surgery.

Murray’s parents Judy and Willie were on Centre Court alongside wife Kim and two of their daughters.

But the former world number one could not give his loyal fans the win they craved as the light faded on a cool summer evening, with the pairing failing to convert a set point in the opening set and being broken twice in the second.

After the defeat, the packed crowd watched a video of Murray’s career highlights, with warm tributes paid by a galaxy of stars including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and former mixed doubles partner Serena Williams.

Djokovic was courtside to witness his career-long rival’s emotional evening in the spotlight alongside past greats including John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova.

“Look, it is hard because I would love to keep playing but I can’t, a tearful Murray said during an on-court interview. “Physically it is too tough now, all of the injuries, they have added up and they haven’t been insignificant.

“I want to play forever, I love the sport and it’s given me so much. It’s taught me loads of lessons over the years I can use for the rest of my life. I don’t want to stop so it is hard.”

Defeat does not yet spell the end for Murray’s Wimbledon journey as he is also scheduled to play mixed doubles with British compatriot and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

The 37-year-old Scot, who has been ravaged by injuries in recent years is targeting the Olympics in Paris, starting later this month, as the final tournament of a glittering career.

Djokovic tested

Earlier, seven-time champion Djokovic came through a testing battle against British wild card Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.

It appeared to be business as usual for the Serbian as he coasted into a two-set lead on Centre Court but the 277th-ranked Fearnley broke his illustrious opponent twice in the third set to reduce the deficit.

Fearnley, playing in his first Grand Slam, carved out two break points in the sixth game of the fourth set but missed his chance and Djokovic broke in the 11th game before serving out for the win.

Djokovic, who is playing with protection after a recent knee operation, is seeking to equal Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s titles and is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

“I hope as the tournament progresses I’ll feel better,” he said.

“I don’t know if I was comfortable in my own skin in the third and fourth. You have rough days when you’re not feeling your best.”

Jessica Pegula, seeded five, became the highest-ranked player to exit the tournament so far, going down 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1 to China’s Wang Xinyu, who celebrated her first win against a top-10 player.

Wang will face Harriet Dart, who defeated Nottingham champion Katie Boulter in an all-British clash for a spot in the last 16.

World number one Iga Swiatek progressed smoothly at the expense of Croatia’s Petra Martic — her 21st straight win.

A single break in each set was enough to give the 23-year-old, who has never been past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

“It’s not the first time I’ve come into this tournament with a ‘streak’,” she said. “It’s not that easy to have this baggage on your shoulders. 

“This year feels different. I don’t feel like everyone is focusing on it. Two years ago was a lot harder when it was 30-something matches (37).”

Elsewhere on day four of Wimbledon, two-time finalist Ons Jabeur beat US qualifier Robin Montgomery while Elena Rybakina, the 2022 women’s champion, finished strongly to beat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

On the men’s side, French Open finalist Alexander Zverev saw off Marcos Giron in straight sets but Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out in four sets to Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, seen as an outside tip for the title, was forced to quit his second-round match against Arthur Fils with a knee injury.

Novak Djokovic came through a testing Wimbledon workout to stay on course for a record-equalling eighth men’s title on Thursday as Andy Murray prepared to launch his emotional farewell. Jessica Pegula became the highest-ranked player to exit the tournament so far, dumped out by China’s Wang Xinyu in the second round but women’s top seed Iga Swiatek cruised through. Seven-time champion Djokovic did not have it all his own way against British wild card Jacob Fearnley but came through 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in a match lasting three hours. It appeared to be business as usual for the Serbian as he coasted into a two-set lead on Centre Court but the 277th-ranked Fearnley broke his illustrious opponent twice in the third set to reduce the deficit.

Fearnley, playing in his first Grand Slam, carved out two break points in the sixth game of the fourth set but missed his chance and Djokovic broke in the 11th game before serving out for the win.

“I didn’t have a chance to see him play,” said Djokovic, 37. “Actually two days ago, I saw him for the first time

“Obviously there’s always an element of surprise and with him having nothing to lose.”

“Most of the British players grow up being exposed to grass courts, quick surfaces, so they know exactly how to play. It’s a very windy day, very challenging conditions and I thought he served very well.”

Djokovic, who is playing with protection after a recent knee operation, is seeking to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s titles and is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Fifth-ranked Pegula went down 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1 to China’s Wang Xinyu, who celebrated her first win against a top-10 player.

The American battled back after losing the first set, saving a match point in the second-set tie-break, before levelling the match.

But China’s 42nd-ranked Wang raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider and sealed the deal.

Wang, 22, said: “Couple of days ago I was asking my coach, ‘When will this happen?’

“Jessica was really tough to play on grass. Her ball was super low and I’m just really happy I won in the end.”

Wang will face Harriet Dart, who defeated Nottingham champion Katie Boulter in an all-British clash for a spot in the last 16.

World number one Swiatek progressed smoothly into the third round at the expense of Croatia’s Petra Martic, racking up a 21st straight win.

A single break in each set was enough to give the 23-year-old, who has never been past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

All eyes will be on Centre Court in the evening when Murray launches his Wimbledon farewell alongside his brother Jamie in the men’s doubles.

Murray, the champion in 2013 and 2016, was desperate for one last crack at the singles but ran out of time after recent surgery to remove a spinal cyst.

The British former world number one still has a chance to wave goodbye to his adoring fans in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles as he treads the turf for a final time, 19 years after his Wimbledon debut.

“I’m hoping maybe for a bit of closure. I just want the opportunity to play one more time out there, hopefully on Centre Court, and feel that buzz,” the 37-year-old said before the tournament started.

Murray is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion but has form in the doubles — teaming up with Jamie to help Britain win the 2015 Davis Cup.

The Murrays will face Australian pair Rinky Hijikata and John Peers on Thursday, with the decibel count expected to soar.

Andy Murray is also scheduled to play mixed doubles with British compatriot and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Elsewhere on day four of Wimbledon, two-time finalist Ons Jabeur beat US qualifier Robin Montgomery in straight sets while Elena Rybakina, the 2022 women’s champion, finished strongly to beat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

On the men’s side, 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov came back from two sets down to beat China’s Shang Juncheng while Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka exited at the hands of Gael Monfils.

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, seen as an outside tip for the title, was forced to quit his second-round match against Arthur Fils with a knee injury.

French Open runner-up Alexander Zverev, the Wimbledon fourth seed, is last on the list on Court One.

File image of Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu.© X (Twitter)

Andy Murray lost his race to be fit for the Wimbledon singles on Tuesday as Novak Djokovic prepared to launch his bid for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men’s crown. The withdrawal of two-time champion Murray means Djokovic is the only member of the fabled “Big Four” in the men’s draw at the All England Club. Roger Federer has retired and Rafael Nadal opted to skip Wimbledon to prepare for a shot at another Olympic title. Murray, 37, is hoping to end his stellar career at the upcoming Paris Games but desperately wanted to make a final singles appearance at Wimbledon, where he was champion in 2013 and 2016.

The Scot, who has been ravaged by injuries in recent years, will still play doubles with his brother Jamie in what is bound to be an emotional farewell in front of his adoring British fans.

Murray underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his back last month after being forced to pull out of Queen’s, a procedure he described as “not insignificant”.

But he admitted defeat in his race to be fit on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” said a statement from Murray’s representatives.

“As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”

Murray was replaced in the draw by Belgium’s David Goffin, a lucky loser from qualifying.

History-chasing Djokovic

Djokovic, born a week apart from Murray in May 1987, had a knee operation after pulling out before his French Open quarter-final — sparking fears he would not be fit in time for Wimbledon.

But the Serbian world number two, who was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, has said he is “pain-free” and opens against Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva.

He knows time is not on his side as he bids to equal Federer’s Wimbledon title record and become the first player — man or woman — to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles.

“I do have something that is described as a feeling of not missing out at a Grand Slam while I can still play and while I’m still active and at this level,” said the Djokovic, who has reached the past five finals at the All England Club.

“I wouldn’t call it a fear of missing out. I would just say it’s this incredible desire to play, just to compete.

“Particularly because it is Wimbledon, the tournament that always has been a dream tournament for me when I was a kid. Just the thought of me missing Wimbledon was just not correct. I didn’t want to deal with that.”

Also in action on the second day of the Championships is women’s world number one and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, eager to progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time.

Swiatek, 23, arrives at the All England Club on the back of a 19-match winning streak but with lingering questions over whether she can transfer her clay-court form to the grass.

First up for the Polish player is Sofia Kenin, whom Swiatek defeated in the first round of the Australian Open this year.

Marketa Vondrousova launches her title defence against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro while 2022 champion Elena Rybakina is also in first-round action.

Ons Jabeur, the beaten finalist in 2022 and 2023, takes on Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.

Wimbledon greats Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray launch their campaigns at the All England Club on Tuesday after both went under the knife in the build-up to the Grand Slam. Djokovic, who had a knee operation after pulling out before his French Open quarter-final, is chasing a record-equalling eighth men’s Wimbledon title and opens against Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva. Britain’s Murray, a two-time champion, takes on another Czech, Tomas Machac, just over a week after having surgery to remove a cyst from his spine, in his farewell appearance at the tournament.

Also in action on the second day of the Championships is women’s world number one and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, eager to progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time.

Here’s a rundown of the three matches to watch on Tuesday:

Novak Djokovic v Vit Kopriva

World number two Novak Djokovic has declared himself “pain-free” after initial fears he would miss Wimbledon following surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

The Serbian has not played since he was forced to withdraw from the French Open before his last-eight tie against Casper Ruud.

Now 37, he knows time is not on his side as he bids to equal Roger Federer’s Wimbledon record and become the first player — man or woman — to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles.

Djokovic, who practised with a knee support on Sunday, said he had an “incredible desire” to play”.

He arrives in London without a title to his name this season, losing his Australian Open crown and the number one ranking to 22-year-old Jannik Sinner.

The Serbian, who has reached the past five finals at Wimbledon, faces Vit Kopriva, ranked 123rd, for the first time in his career.

Andy Murray v Tomas Machac

It has been a case of “will he or won’t he?” in the build-up to Wimbledon for home hero Andy Murray after his operation just over a week before the start of the tournament.

The 37-year-old is hoping to finish his career at the upcoming Paris Olympics but desperately wants to make a final appearance in London.

The injury-ravaged Scot has slipped to 113th in the world rankings but it now appears he will get his dream of a send-off at Wimbledon, where he is also listed to play doubles alongside brother Jamie.

The former world number one is due to face 39th-ranked Tomas Machac on Centre Court on Tuesday, with emotions running high.

The Czech player leads 2-0 in head-to-heads, with both wins coming this year.

“I’m hoping maybe for a bit of closure,” said Murray, who won the Wimbledon title in 2013 and 2016.

“I just want the opportunity to play one more time out there, hopefully on Centre Court, and feel that buzz.”

Iga Swiatek v Sofia Kenin

World number one Iga Swiatek arrives at the All England Club on the back of a 19-match winning streak but with lingering questions over whether she can transfer her clay-court form to the grass.

Swiatek, who has won five trophies already this year, has not played a warm-up tournament on grass, opting to withdraw from the Berlin event in order to rest.

Last year’s quarter-final appearance was her best showing so far at Wimbledon but the Pole, 23, is justifiably tipped to go far at this year’s Wimbledon, where she clinched the junior title in 2018.

First up is Sofia Kenin, whom Swiatek defeated in the first round of the Australian Open this year.

The 49th-ranked US player has struggled this season but she has experience of the sharp end of Grand Slams, triumphing at the 2020 Australian Open before losing to Swiatek in the final of the French Open months later.

File image of Andy Murray© AFP

Emma Raducanu has declined the opportunity to represent Great Britain in next month’s Paris Olympics. The 2021 US Open champion, who is still recovering from surgery on her wrists and ankle, was offered one of the two International Tennis Federation (ITF) places reserved for former Grand Slam champions. However, Raducanu has chosen to focus on her fitness and prepare for the upcoming British grass-court season. Raducanu’s current world ranking is too low to qualify outright for the Olympics, a consequence of her time away from the sport due to injury. The 21-year-old missed the French Open, which is played on the same Roland Garros clay courts that will host the Olympic tennis tournament, to ensure she is in peak condition for the British grass-court swing.

Iain Bates, head of Great Britain’s Olympic tennis team, shared insights into Raducanu’s decision. “I have had various conversations with Emma over the last couple of weeks and a slightly longer period where it’s very clear how much being part of a British team at an Olympics would mean to her,” Bates said.

“I think she feels this isn’t going to be the right timing for her for this summer. She’s hopefully got many Olympics ahead of her. I’m very comfortable with the decision that she’s made.”

Meanwhile, two-time Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray is set to compete in what might be his final tournament. The 37-year-old tennis icon, who won gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016, has been granted an ITF place for Paris 2024.

Earlier this year, Murray hinted that he did not expect to “play much past this summer,” adding a layer of poignancy to his participation in the upcoming Games.

Great Britain’s tennis nominations, announced at Queen’s Club on Sunday, include a mix of seasoned players and rising stars. Joining Murray in the men’s singles are Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, and Dan Evans. Katie Boulter is the only British woman to have qualified by ranking.

In doubles action, Murray and Dan Evans are slated to pair up in the men’s doubles. Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will also compete in the men’s doubles, leveraging their high world rankings. For the women’s doubles, Boulter and Heather Watson will team up, alongside another pair, Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden.

The Olympic tennis tournament, scheduled from July 27 to August 4 at Roland Garros, will feature five medal events: women’s singles, men’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. As the event draws closer, the ITF will finalize and announce the full entry list on July 4.

–IANS

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