Tennis fans slammed Emma Raducanu today after she pulled out of her hotly-anticipated mixed doubles game with Andy Murray – denying him a final Wimbledon match.
There had been great anticipation in South West London about Britain’s two most high-profile players teaming up to give Murray a final swansong at the All England Club.
The duo were scheduled to play Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo in the fourth match on Court One this evening – but Raducanu withdrew just hours beforehand, citing stiffness in her right wrist.
It was a huge disappointment to ticket-holders and also to Murray, whose career was celebrated on Centre Court on Thursday after a first-round men’s doubles defeat alongside his brother Jamie.
Fans were left devastated because they wanted to give arguably one of Britain’s greatest athletes of all time a proper send-off, and some slammed Raducanu for her decision.
Emma Raducanu wears an England football kit while training at Wimbledon today
Andy Murray’s career was celebrated on Centre Court on Thursday after a first-round men’s doubles defeat alongside his brother Jamie.
Murray played his final game with his brother Jamie in the first round of the men’s doubles on Thursday
Fans were left reeling that they wouldn’t see the 37-year-old in action at the All England club for one last time, aiming their frustrations towards the 21-year-old.
One fan lashed out saying ‘I knew she would do that rather than give Andy Murray the send-off he deserved. Shame on you, Emma Raducanu’.
Another wrote: ‘That girl – honestly. So self centred, so out of order and unfortunately so predictable! Was cheering her on yesterday – never again. Form is temporary but class is permanent.’
A third added: ‘Appalling call from Emma Raducanu… she has years of matches ahead of her or a unique chance to play Andy Murray last match at Wimbledon. It’s a no brainer, which I think she is lacking at the moment.’
But other fans were quick to defend Raducanu, as one fan took to X stating: ‘We are all gutted but hope Emma is OK for her singles match’.
Another wrote: ‘Tough but the right decision for both. Andy had the perfect goodbye on Thursday, and Emma has a big chance in the singles.’
And a third added ‘As disappointing as it is, I don’t think you can blame Emma Raducanu for her mixed dubs withdrawal. Playing fourth on Court 1 today – with a huge singles match tomorrow – was never going to be ideal. Completely the correct decision.’
Raducanu announced the decision this afternoon in a statement which said: ‘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.
‘I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but got to take care.’
Raducanu is due to play her fourth-round singles match on Sunday against Lulu Sun, and she is cautious about pushing her body too far having undergone surgery on both wrists and one ankle last year, keeping her out for eight months.
Murray insisted after his match on Thursday that there would be no change of heart in his retirement decision, saying: ‘I know that it’s time now. I’m ready for that.’
He will head off on a family holiday before preparing for the final event of his career at the Olympics in Paris, where he is entered in singles and doubles with Dan Evans.
Raducanu, meanwhile, must hope the problem does not derail her Wimbledon run, with the 21-year-old now fancied to reach at least the quarter-finals.
There does not appear too much cause for alarm, with Raducanu hitting at the All England Club on Saturday, although she was pictured looking uncomfortable.
The former US Open champion again wore an England shirt ahead of the Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against Switzerland, which kicks off in Germany at 5pm.