Judy Murray definitely didn’t seem happy at all about Emma Raducanu’s sudden decision to withdraw from her mixed doubles match with Andy Murray and that led to the two-time Wimbledon champion’s mother calling out the 21-year-old British star.
On Wednesday, tennis fans were left absolutely ecstatic after it was announced that Raducanu and Murray signed up to play together in the mixed doubles event. Instantly, a big hype surrounding the combination started to build up as many thought it was the perfect way for Murray to say goodbye to Wimbledon.
After Murray withdrew from the Wimbledon singles event and lost in the men’s doubles first round with his brother Jamie Murray on Thursday, his farewell at The Championships was still alive because he still had mixed doubles with Raducanu. But on Saturday – just a few hours before their scheduled first-round match against Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo – Murray’s farewell ended even before he stepped onto the court after Raducanu decided to pull out of the match, citing wrist soreness issues.
On X, presenter Marcus Buckland wrote: “Astonishing news that Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from her mixed doubles match with Andy Murray. She’s citing soreness in her right wrist. It means Murray has played his last match at Wimbledon. Oh dear!”
After noticing the post, Judy Murray confirmed the news was true but did it in a way to shade Raducanu.
“Yes, astonishing,” Murray’s mother said in a response to the Buckland post.
Meanwhile, Judy Murray also posted on her Instagram Story about the comments Serena Williams made after playing mixed doubles with her son at 2019 Wimbledon. Many deemed this act as Judy Murray throwing another shot at Raducanu.
Judy Murray then took radical action
After Judy Murray’s X post quickly caught attention and started making rounds, she decided to protect her posts – which means no one can see them anymore.
Meanwhile, Raducanu defended her decision by saying it was “a very tough decision” but that she simply could not have risked anything with her wrist.
“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 said in a statement.
After Raducanu accepted Murray’s invitation but also started well in the singles event, she was questioned by her team about her mixed doubles decision. And she responded that it was on.
“In my team, they were asking me, ‘Emma, are you sure you want to play? Just in case … You’re still in the tournament. I was like ‘No-brainer.’ I think that [Murray’s invitation to play] gave me so much energy, and just knowing that I’d be able to have that opportunity and experience, it made me so happy and I slept very peacefully and woke up very happy as well,” Raducanu said on Friday.
Raducanu indicated on Friday that she wasn’t happy about the scheduling
On Saturday, Raducanu and Murray’s mixed doubles match was scheduled to take place at the same time as England’s game against Switzerland at the European Championships. Raducanu wasn’t particularly happy about that.
“The scheduling of that was not ideal. It’s just an amazing opportunity to be able to play with him. It’s something that I’m going to cherish,” Raducanu said on Friday.
On Wednesday, Raducanu delivered one of her best performances ever after ousting Elise Mertens 6-1 6-2. Later in her press conference, the 21-year-old was asked about the mixed doubles news and she said she needed just “10 seconds” to accept Murray’s invitation.
“I got asked, literally like 10 seconds, I was like, ‘Yeah,'” Raducanu said earlier this week.
“For me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think some things are bigger than just tennis. I think some things are a once-in-a-lifetime memory that you’re going to have for the rest of your life. To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, those things don’t come by.
“At the end of my life, at the end of my career when I’m like 70-years-old, I know I’m going to have that memory of playing Wimbledon with Andy Murray on a home Slam. For me it was an honor to be asked.”
In the past, Raducanu said a couple of times that playing mixed doubles with Murray was something she would love to do one day. In the end, Raducanu was given a chance for that but passed up on it.
Today, she plays against Lulu Sun in the Wimbledon round-of-16.