Wimbledon: Murray and Raducanu teaming up for mixed doubles

By Sports Desk July 03, 2024

Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu will play the mixed doubles event at Wimbledon as a wildcard entry.

Murray has been struggling with a back injury in recent weeks, for which he needed minor surgery, and pulled out of the men's singles on Tuesday.

However, he confirmed he would still be competing in the men's doubles alongside older brother Jamie.

The two-time singles champion is playing at Wimbledon for the final time before retiring later this year.

It will be Murray's fourth appearance in the mixed doubles, most notably pairing up with Serena Williams in 2019, making it to the third round.

2021 US Open champion Raducanu has already advanced to the second round in the women's singles and will play in the mixed doubles for the first time at a grand slam.

The pair are playing together for the first time, with the first round of the event scheduled for Friday and Saturday. They will find out their first opponents on Wednesday.

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    Emma Raducanu says her Wimbledon run has "fuelled the fire" as she looks to return to her best form.

    Raducanu, who stormed to a shock US Open win in 2021, has endured a difficult few years.

    Yet she looked strong in her opening three rounds at Wimbledon, dumping out Maria Sakkari en route to a tie with qualifier Lulu Sun on Sunday.

    However, with the odds in her favour, Raducanu failed to deliver as Sun prevailed 6-2 5-7 6-2 to claim a surprise victory. 

    With Aryna Sabalenka having withdrawn and both Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek also crashing out over the weekend, a path to glory might have opened up for Raducanu.

    Instead, she is aiming to use an encouraging run at the All England Club as motivation for the rest of the season.

    "I feel good about things going forwards. I feel optimistic," said Raducanu.

    "As bitter as it is to take, I think [this defeat] happened for a reason.

    "You don't want things to happen too easily and too quickly. I had that before. I don't necessarily want just a massive spike.

    "Six months ago when I was starting out after surgery, I would have signed for the fourth round at Wimbledon.

    "Of course I'm disappointed. Of course, I want more. It fuels the fire and makes me more hungry."

    Raducanu has received some criticism, though, for withdrawing from the mixed doubles event on the eve of her match with Sun.

    That withdrawal marked the end of Andy Murray's farewell Wimbledon appearance.

  • Wimbledon: Raducanu has no regrets over Murray withdrawal Wimbledon: Raducanu has no regrets over Murray withdrawal

    Emma Raducanu has no regrets over her decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles tournament at Wimbledon, a call that ended Andy Murray's career at SW19.

    The 2021 US Open champion was due to play alongside Murray on Saturday, in what would have been the Scot's final entry at a tournament where he has won two singles titles, ahead of his expected retirement later this year.

    Murray was unable to play singles after undergoing back surgery but did appear alongside brother Jamie in the men's doubles on Thursday, losing in straight sets to John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.

    Raducanu cited soreness in her wrist as she withdrew from the mixed doubles to prioritise her singles campaign, which ended with Sunday's last-16 defeat to Lulu Sun.

    She is certain she made the right choice, saying after her elimination: "It was a very difficult decision. Of course, I didn't want to take his last match away from him. 

    "But I think a lot of players in a similar situation would have done the same thing, prioritising their body. I still stand by making the right call.

    "I don't think I would have done it any other way. I think in this sport especially, as an individual, you have to make your own calls and prioritise yourself."

    Raducanu's withdrawal caused controversy on social media as Murray's mother Judy described the news as "astonishing" on X, later insisting the post was sarcastic and suggesting the tournament's scheduling had forced Raducanu's hand.

    Asked about that initial post, Raducanu claimed she had not seen it before adding: "I'm sure she didn't mean it."

  • Wimbledon: Gauff crashes out in last 16 as Navarro wins all-American tussle Wimbledon: Gauff crashes out in last 16 as Navarro wins all-American tussle

    Coco Gauff suffered a surprise exit in the last 16 at Wimbledon as Emma Navarro claimed a huge straight-sets victory over her fellow American on Centre Court.

    Second seed Gauff entered the match hoping to reach the last eight for the fifth time in her last six grand slam entries, but the US Open champion was stunned by her compatriot.

    Nineteenth seed Navarro needed just 76 minutes to wrap up a 6-4 6-3 victory, advancing to the quarter-finals at a major for the first time in her career.

    The 23-year-old was broken to love five games into the opener but that setback only spurred her on as she hit back immediately, eventually claiming the second break in the 10th game with a fine passing shot down the line. 

    Gauff looked nervous at the start of the second set, a double fault and a wayward forehand handing Navarro a break four games in, though the world number two forced her opponent to serve it out after fending off a potential second break.

    Navarro failed to convert her first two match points, but it was third time lucky as Gauff crashed a return into the net, sealing the biggest win of Navarro's career.

    "I'm just really grateful to be out on Centre Court, where so many legends have played before me, it's a real honour and I just can't wait to play again," Navarro said afterwards.

    "It's probably my favourite court I've ever played on. The fans, the atmosphere… just having my family and my team watch me was so special.

    "I played really aggressively. Coco's an amazing player, I have respect for her and everything she's done, but I wanted to push back against her and I think I did that."

    Data Debrief: Navarro flying the flag

    Navarro will now face seventh seed and French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini for a place in the semi-finals, with Gauff following fellow heavyweights Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek out of the draw.

    She is just the fourth American woman to beat a top-two ranked player at Wimbledon, after both Venus and Serena Williams and Alison Riske. 

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