The rising star of British tennis, Emma Raducanu, has opened up about the tense aftermath of her last-minute withdrawal from the Wimbledon mixed doubles with Andy Murray last summer. The 20-year-old, who is currently competing at the Australian Open 2025, revealed she feared there would be “bad blood” between her and the Scottish tennis legend following the incident.
Raducanu’s decision to pull out due to soreness in her right wrist came as a disappointment to many fans who were eagerly anticipating the high-profile British pairing. It also denied Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, one final outing on the hallowed grass courts of the All England Club before his retirement.
A Heartfelt Apology
Speaking after her impressive second-round victory over Amanda Anisimova in Melbourne, Raducanu shared details of how she tried to smooth things over with Murray in the wake of her Wimbledon withdrawal:
“Afterwards I sent him a long message basically apologising if I caused any trouble, I guess, at Wimbledon, that’s definitely the last thing I want. He’s someone that I’ve grown up looking up to and I don’t want any bad blood or harsh feelings with him.”
The 2021 US Open champion said she was relieved that Murray took the news well, despite his disappointment at missing out on a dream doubles partnership on home soil:
“I sent him a long message and he took it really well and responded saying he was disappointed but he understood. We’re fine now. We walk past each other and say, ‘hello,’ ‘well done.’ It’s obviously really cool seeing him with Novak [Djokovic] here as well.”
Focus on Australian Open
With the air cleared between her and Murray, Raducanu can now fully focus on her Australian Open campaign. The world No. 77 has already exceeded expectations by reaching the third round, where she will face the formidable second seed Iga Swiatek.
Raducanu, who required medical treatment during her triumph over Anisimova, welcomed the challenge of testing herself against one of the top players in the women’s game:
“[Swiatek is] a top player, she’s been really consistent over the last quite a few years. So it’s going to be a match for me where I feel like I don’t really have much expectation externally. It’s going to be a great buzz of adrenaline.”
Murray’s New Role
As for Murray, the 37-year-old has embarked on a new chapter in his illustrious career by taking on a coaching role alongside 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The unlikely partnership has already drawn plenty of attention at Melbourne Park, with Murray seen in Djokovic’s box during the Serb’s first-round victory.
While Raducanu and Murray may not have had the opportunity to join forces on the court, their brief Wimbledon saga has added an intriguing subplot to the 2025 Australian Open. As both players continue their journeys in Melbourne – Raducanu as a rising star and Murray as a mentor to greatness – fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on their interactions and hoping for more chances to see them share the spotlight in the future.
