Andy Murray played his final Wimbledon match after Emma Raducanu announced she was withdrawing from the mixed doubles due to a right wrist problem.
The pair were due to meet in the first round on Saturday night, but Raducanu said in a statement that she withdrew to protect herself from injury.
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“Unfortunately, I woke up this morning with some stiffness in my right wrist, so I decided to make the very difficult decision to withdraw from tonight’s mixed doubles match,” she said. “I’m disappointed because I was really looking forward to playing with Andy, but be careful.”
According to the rules of the game, Murray cannot select a replacement partner. Alternative pairings will replace them.
This news was very disappointing for fans, who were especially looking forward to seeing Murray. The 37-year-old played in the men’s doubles with his brother Jamie Murray on Thursday and received an emotional farewell that included a tribute video and in front of many of his peers On-court interview with Sue Barker, featuring Novak Djokovic.
Raducanu will compete in the fourth round of the women’s singles on Sunday. The postponement of the mixed doubles match will shorten her recovery time.
Raducanu has been plagued by injury problems since winning the U.S. Open in New York in 2021. She will face Sun Lulu in her fourth-round singles match on Sunday. She had surgery on both wrists and one ankle last year that kept her out for eight months, so she is understandably cautious about her body.
It will be a huge disappointment for ticket holders and for Murray, who celebrated his career on Center Court on Thursday after losing in the first round alongside his brother Jamie. The Scot later insisted he would not change his mind, saying: “I know now is the time. I’m ready.
He will spend the holidays with his family before preparing to compete in the final tournament of his career at the Paris Olympics, where he will compete in singles and doubles with Dan Evans.
Meanwhile, Raducanu must hope the issue does not derail her journey to Wimbledon, with the 21-year-old now hoping to at least reach the quarter-finals.
Raducanu was batting at the All England Club on Saturday and although she was pictured looking uncomfortable, there didn’t seem to be much reason for alarm. The former US Open champion pulls out the England jersey again ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-finals later on Saturday.
