Emma Raducanu explains her decision to withdraw from Wimbledon mixed doubles due to wrist stiffness, prioritizing her singles campaign and health. Despite criticism, she stands by her choice.
Bollywood Fever: Emma Raducanu insisted her decision to pull out of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon was a “no-brainer,” despite her singles campaign ending on Sunday.
Raducanu was due to partner Andy Murray in what was expected to be the Scot’s Wimbledon swansong, only to withdraw after experiencing stiffness in her wrist. The decision seemed to draw criticism from Murray’s mother, Judy, though she later moved to clarify her comments.
The former US Open champion had pulled out of Wimbledon altogether in 2023 to undergo wrist surgery. She made it as far as the fourth round on her return to SW19 this year, equalling her best performance at Wimbledon, only to be eliminated by qualifier Lulu Sun.
After her defeat, Raducanu was asked about her mixed doubles decision. Despite the result on Sunday, she did not appear to have any regrets.
“I don’t think it was a mistake because I was feeling fine, then [Saturday] morning just woke up with stiffness,” Raducanu told reporters. “I have to prioritize myself, my singles and my body. I think it was the right decision. I stand by the decision. Obviously it was a tough decision, though, because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.”
She also insisted Murray never asked whether a run to the fourth round might impact her doubles involvement. “That was never a question to be answered,” she said. “Given how I woke up yesterday morning, it was for me a no-brainer [to withdraw].”
When asked about Judy Murray’s comments, Raducanu made it clear she had been unaware of any reaction to her decision. However, she maintained people are “entitled to their opinions”.
Raducanu’s withdrawal means Andy Murray’s men’s doubles defeat alongside brother Jamie ended up being his final Wimbledon appearance. The two-time champion is expected to call time on his career later this year, though he is part of the Team GB squad as he aims to bow out with Olympic gold.
“It was a very difficult decision,” Raducanu added when discussing her withdrawal from the mixed doubles. “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.
“But yeah, what a champion. I think that hopefully he’ll play in the Olympics and have another farewell there,” she added. Raducanu was offered a wild card for the Olympics herself, but has opted not to take part.
Raducanu wasn’t the only high-profile player eliminated from the women’s singles on Sunday. Number two seed Coco Gauff was eliminated by fellow American Emma Navarro, meaning just one of the top five seeds is still in the women’s singles draw.
“Coco’s obviously an amazing player and I have a ton of respect for her and what she’s done at such a young age is amazing,” Navarro told the BBC after her win. “I knew she wasn’t going to make it easy on me tonight but I wanted to play aggressively and push back against her game and I think I was able to do that.”
As Wimbledon continues, the decisions and performances of top players like Raducanu and Gauff highlight the unpredictable and challenging nature of the tournament. Raducanu’s focus on health and long-term performance remains a priority as she navigates her career.
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