Emma Raducanu issues new Wimbledon statement after Andy Murray backlash

Emma Raducanu has taken to Instagram as she posted a new statement following her exit from Wimbledon a day after pulling out of mixed doubles with Andy Murray. The 21-year-old received immense backlash on social media as Murray’s SW19 final appearance had to be cancelled, with his mother Judy labelling the withdrawal as “astonishing” before later clarifying that she aimed her dig at the tournament’s scheduling.

“Thank you for living each point with me this week,” Raducanu wrote on social media as she reflected on her Grand Slam run. “Today is already day 1/365 to make a difference for next time @wimbledon just keep swimming.” After claiming that wrist soreness was the reason that she opted against playing with Murray on the morning of their doubles match, Raducanu doubled down and insisted that she made the right decision.

The 2021 US Open returned to action on Monday for her fourth-round clash with Lulu Sun, only to suffer a nasty fall which required treatment, before Raducanu was defeated 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. “I just woke up yesterday with a bit of a stiff wrist,” she said in her post-match press conference. “With the balls being quite heavy in the grass, it’s just something that I have to manage. I’ve been playing on the grass for quite a few weeks now. I think I just had to prioritise my singles.”

“I don’t think it was a mistake because I was feeling fine, then yesterday morning just woke up with stiffness. I have to prioritise myself, my singles and my body. “I think it was the right decision. I stand by the decision. Yeah, obviously it was a tough decision, though, because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.”