As a light mizzly rain descended on the All England Club on Wednesday, delaying the start of play at The Championships, came the cheering news that Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray will be teaming up in the mixed doubles draw in Murray’s final appearance at Wimbledon.
I’m disappointed. I wanted to play in the tournament, and I wanted to have a chance to go out there and walk out on my own on Centre Court again, and give it another go. But I also was only going to do that if I felt like I could be competitive. And I didn’t feel like that today. Andy Murray
Following Murray’s withdrawal from the Gentlemen’s Singles on Day 2, the former two-time champion is fit enough to add the mixed event with Raducanu to his schedule, as well as playing the men’s doubles with older brother Jamie.
Murray has been recovering after undergoing back surgery to remove a spinal cyst 11 days ago, and was forced to withdraw from his 1st-round singles match against Tomas Machac on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m disappointed. I wanted to play in the tournament, and I wanted to have a chance to go out there and walk out on my own on Centre Court again, and give it another go,” Murray said. “But I also was only going to do that if I felt like I could be competitive. And I didn’t feel like that today.
“I’m sorry, obviously, for everyone that came and wanted to support and watch again. And I wanted that moment, as well, as much for me as for the people that have supported me over the years. The fans, but also my closest friends, family, my team. It was important for me to do that with them, as well,” he added. “It’s one of those things. Unfortunate. The timing was horrible. The surgery was a complex one. It wasn’t to be.”
The former World No 1 has played in the mixed doubles once before, when he teamed up with Serena Williams to reach the 3rd round in 2019.
Raducanu plays her second round ladies’ singles match later on Wednesday, against Belgian Elise Mertens, and, after her opening win of the tournament, was asked how the 37-year-old has helped her as a tennis player.
“I think the biggest advice is just how he’s always taken care of his operations, how he manages his people,” the 2021 US Open champion said. “I think, for me, it’s just like watching him operate day to day, watching him be absolutely on it with everything. Even in practice now, he’s so on it to the minute.
“I think, me, when I was a bit younger maybe, showing up 15 minutes before practice to do a few arm curls, swing my hand around and warm up, he’s there for an hour and a half doing treatment. He just sets really good examples.”
Andy Murray has played in the Mixed once before, with Serena Williams in 2019, when the pair reached the 3rd-round
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