Emma Raducanu chose to withdraw from her mixed doubles match with Andy Murray in order to focus on her singles competition, despite falling in the fourth round at Wimbledon Sunday.
The 21-year-old exited the mixed doubles event Saturday due to a sore wrist, missing out on what would have been one of Murray's final matches before his planned retirement later this summer.
"It was an incredibly difficult decision," Raducanu shared after her match with Lulu Sun ended in a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 defeat. "I understand that I didn't want to take away Murray's last match at Wimbledon, but many players would likely have made the same choice given their physical condition. I still believe it was the right decision."
Raducanu said she and Murray hadn't discussed potential scenarios if her singles progression continued and a withdrawal might be necessary.
"I was feeling good initially, then in the morning before the match my wrist felt stiff," Raducanu explained. "Prioritizing myself, my singles game, and my physical wellbeing led to this choice. Although it was tough because I've always wanted to participate in mixed doubles, ultimately it was an easy decision for me."
Raducanu downplayed the significance of Judy Murray's social media comment praising her withdrawal as "astonishing," a sentiment which she later clarified to be sarcastic. "I know that wasn't what Mum intended," Raducanu said, adding that scheduling factors likely played a role in their decision-making process.
Despite missing out on Wimbledon, Raducanu expressed determination to improve her performance and climb the rankings: "For sure there are areas I need to work on. My serve got better, but consistency is something that needs attention every day."
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