Emma Raducanu has revealed that she sent a heartfelt message to Andy Murray following her controversial withdrawal from their mixed doubles match at Wimbledon last year. Raducanu pulled out of the match to focus on her singles campaign, a decision that sparked significant discussion during the tournament.
Raducanu said,
“I sent him a long message, basically: ‘If I caused any trouble at Wimbledon, that’s definitely the last thing I want.’”
She emphasized her admiration for Murray, calling him one of her idols growing up, and wanted to ensure there were no lingering hard feelings.
Why Raducanu Withdrew from the Match
Raducanu withdrew just hours before the scheduled mixed doubles match due to stiffness in her right wrist. The decision was made to prioritize her singles match against Lulu Sun in the fourth round, which she ultimately lost 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
This withdrawal effectively ended Murray’s grand slam mixed doubles campaign, drawing criticism and attention, including a sarcastic social media comment from Judy Murray, Andy’s mother. Judy later clarified that her remark was aimed at the tournament’s scheduling, not Raducanu.
Raducanu’s Efforts to Mend the Relationship
In the aftermath of the incident, Raducanu was determined to address the situation with Murray directly. She said,
“I wanted to take the initiative… He’s someone I respect a lot, and I just didn’t want any negative tension in the air.”
Raducanu expressed relief after Murray responded kindly to her message, stating that while he was disappointed, he understood her decision.
