Emma Raducanu has warned against writing off Andy Murray as the Brit faces a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon.
Murray was recently forced to withdraw from his match against Jordan Thompson at Queen’s due to injury and since then has undergone a procedure on his back. The Telegraph has previously reported that the issue was a spinal cyst but this is yet to be officially confirmed. On Sunday rumours started to circulate that Murray would be withdrawing from Wimbledon with the ATP also posting the news on their social media account before deleting the post. This claim has since been denied and an official decision is yet to be made.
Speaking about Murray ahead of her campaign at this week’s Eastbourne International, Raducanu has warned against making assumptions about his health.
“I think it’s very easy to jump to conclusions very quickly. I don’t know what’s going on at all but I just wouldn’t believe everything that’s said in the press because a lot of the time it’s not the full story at all.” The London Evening Standard quoted Raducanu as saying.
Speaking further about Murray, who is likely to retire later this year, the 21-year-old has praised his professionalism and influence within the sport.
“Watching Andy at Wimbledon is so special,” she said.
“I just see him operate day to day, how professional he is, how he’s in the gym an hour and a half before practice, how he goes about his thing.
“It’s just nice to have that influence. He sets really good stands and all of us love to have him around. It’s nice to also seehim hitting with the other boys and the other players. I think they all get really inspired when they play with him too.”
Murray has not said what his final tournament will be before he steps away from the sport for good. Earlier this year, he told reporters that he doesn’t plan to play beyond the summer before he suffered an ankle injury and now back problems. Should he play in Wimbledon, it will be his 16th main draw appearance at the tournament which he won in 2013 and 2016.
Meanwhile, Raducanu will be hoping to continue her recent form heading into Wimbledon. Last week she reached the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open in what was her best result at a WTA event since September 2022. In Eastbourne, she will play Sloane Stephens in her opening match on Tuesday.
