Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu will team up for the Wimbledon mixed doubles event! Andy withdrew from the singles draw despite giving everything to get ready after a procedure on his back to remove a spinal cyst. However, the two-time Wimbledon champion will embrace both doubles draws in his last run at the All England Club, competing in men’s doubles with his brother Jamie and the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu. Andy is hoping to repeat his great 2012 Olympic Games run with Laura Robson, winning the silver medal for their country. Unlike the veteran, Raducanu has barely played doubles during her professional career. However, she could not miss a chance to join forces with Murray, who is ending his career at the Olympic Games in Paris later this month.
Andy Murray, Wimbledon 2024© Adam Pretty / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Emma made a winning start in singles, ousting Renata Zarazua 7-6, 6-3 in just under two hours. The Briton defended four out of five break points and seized two out of three break chances in a tight duel. Emma led 4-2 in the opening set before Renata pulled the break back. They served well in the closing stages and introduced a tie break. The home star dominated and clinched it 7-0, gathering a boost ahead of set number two. The Briton denied two break points in the third game and served well in the remaining ones, keeping the pressure on the other side. She broke Zarazua in the sixth game and squandered a match point on the return at 5-2. However, Emma kept her focus and moved over the top with a hold at love in game nine, booking a place in the second round.
Emma Raducanu, Wimbledon 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu will compete in the Wimbledon mixed doubles.
The young star will have an honor to compete with Andy in the mixed doubles, just like Serena Williams in 2019! Murray and Williams joined forces and passed two rivals before falling to Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes. Andy and Serena served at 73% but did not use that, dropping 35% of the points behind the initial shot and suffering three breaks. Soares and Melichar got broken once in the second set, losing it but responding strongly in the decider.
Andy Murray, Wimbledon 2024© Adam Pretty / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Soares broke Williams in the eighth game of the opening set and held at 15 in the next one to wrap it up and send his team in front. Two teams served well in the second set, with Murray and Williams opening a 5-4 advantage. They broke Soares in the tenth game after the Brazilian’s double fault, clinching the set 6-4 and forcing a decider. Bruno recovered his game and secured a break for his team in the first game with a backhand winner. The Brazilian placed a fine volley in the third game, stealing the Briton’s serve and sending his team 3-0 in front. Melichar served for the win at 5-2 and landed a service winner on Murray to propel her team into the quarter-final and send the legends packing.
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