Two of Britain’s best known tennis players could soon be joining forces for the very first time in their careers.
World No.11 Emma Raducanu has given her strongest hint yet that she is hoping to play an event alongside Andy Murray at some stage. Although it may not be at this year’s Wimbledon championships which will get underway at the end of the month. Raducanu will be making only her second main draw appearance at the Grand Slam compared to two-time champion Murray who will be making his 15th.
“We haven’t actually spoken about it but it’s something we feel we both want to do,” BBC Sport quoted Raducanu as saying.
“I’m not sure if this is going to be the year but hopefully it will happen.”
Pressed further about her comments during an interview with BBC breakfast, Raducanu said the two tennis players pairing up could happen ‘soonish.’ Murray has played mixed doubles in a major event only three times with the most recent of them occurring at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships when he played alongside Serena Williams. He has also won a silver medal in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson at the 2012 Olympic Games.
This week both players are tuning up their preparations for Wimbledon. Murray is playing at the Stuttgart Open which is the first ATP Tour grass court event he has played outside of the UK since Newport 2005.
“Hopefully to get as many matches as I can this week and improve from last week,” Murray replied when asked what his targets are for the tournament. “You can’t always control the results or how well you are going to play. But I can control my preparation and such things and I try to give myself an opportunity for as many matches as possible. That’s my goal.”
Meanwhile, Raducanu is participating in the Nottingham Open which is the event where she played her first Tour-level main draw match just a year ago. Since then, she has surged up the rankings after creating history by becoming the first qualifier to win the US Open last September. At the tournament she played 10 matches in a row without dropping a set.
“I actually received my wildcard when I was in Nottingham so it has got a special place for me,” she said.
The 19-year-old is still on the hunt for a permanent coach after going separate ways with Torben Beltz earlier this year. Within the past 12 months she has also worked alongside Andrew Richardson and Nigel Sears before ending their collaborations.
“I want to take my time with this decision,” she said. “Nothing has changed. I still have the same people, good people, around me. I don’t want to rush into anything.
“Personally, I think I know what I’m doing. I’m trusting what I’m doing and the work I’m doing. I’m still 19 and I’ve already won a Grand Slam so I can take my time and put things in place because I know my motivation isn’t any less.”
Murray will play Christopher O’Connell in his first round match and Raducanu faces Viktorija Golubic.
