Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu are set to team up for mixed doubles at Wimbledon, playing either Friday or Saturday. The announcement of their partnership comes with the confirmation that they have been granted a wild card entry for the event.
For Murray, this tournament holds extra significance as it marks his final appearance at the All England Club. The 37-year-old, who claimed Grand Slam titles with Wimbledon singles in 2013 and 2016, has recently been recovering from back surgery to remove a spinal cyst. Although he had to withdraw from his first-round singles match against Tomas Machac due to ongoing recovery, Murray has been cleared to compete in both the mixed doubles with Raducanu and the men’s doubles with his brother Jamie Murray.
Murray is no stranger to high-profile mixed doubles, having previously partnered with Serena Williams in 2019, where they reached the third round. This year, teaming up with Raducanu adds another layer of excitement, especially as it marks Raducanu’s Grand Slam debut in doubles. Despite her limited experience in doubles play, with only one tour-level match in Washington two years ago, Raducanu has long expressed interest in playing alongside Murray. In an interview two years ago, she mentioned the idea, saying, “We haven’t actually spoken about it but it’s something we feel we both want to do.”
Their partnership isn’t entirely uncharted territory; they faced each other in a ‘Battle of the Brits’ exhibition match during the summer of 2020, held at the National Tennis Centre amidst the pandemic.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, shared her admiration for Murray’s professionalism and preparation. Following her first-round win on Monday, she reflected on Murray’s influence, noting, “The biggest advice is just how he’s always taken care of his operations, how he manages his people. I haven’t really spoken to him so much. I think for me it’s just 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.”
