MUZZ BE CLEAR
Emma Raducanu gives 11-word reaction to Judy Murray’s ‘astonishing’ tweet after being knocked out of Wimbledon
Raducanu was dumped out of singles after nasty fall against qualifier
EMMA RADUCANU defended her decision to snub mixed doubles with Andy Murray as she bowed out of Wimbledon singles.
The Brit, 21, withdrew from a Box Office pairing with Murray, 37, on Saturday night after waking up with a stiff right wrist.
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She feels it was the right call to quit the doubles even though it meant Murray’s Wimbledon career was over.
This evening she lost 6-2 5-7 6-2 to New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun in the last 16 – the final Brit to exit the two singles draws.
Raducanu said: “I just woke up with a bit of a stiff wrist.
“With the balls being quite heavy in the grass, it’s just something I have to manage. I just had to prioritise my singles and my body.
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“I don’t think it was a mistake because I was feeling fine.
“It was the right decision. I stand by the decision. It was a tough decision because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.
“Andy was obviously disappointed because it’s his last match. What a champion.
“I think that hopefully he’ll play in the Olympics and have another farewell there.”
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The late withdrawal from the mixed doubles first-round tie, despite agreeing to the idea last Tuesday, divided opinion in tennis circles.
Judy Murray received flak when she responded to one X post by saying “Yes, astonishing…”
Andy Murray tears up on Centre Court in emotional interview with tennis icon Sue Barker
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She also took to Instagram and shared an LTA post quoting Serena Williams – Murray’s 2019 Wimbledon mixed doubles partner – saying: “Playing mixed doubles by your side was one of the highlights of my life”.
On Sunday, Judy tried to clarify her intentions behind the messages, saying: “Not sure anyone understands sarcasm these days.
“Pretty sure the scheduling (4th match Court 1 with a singles following day) will have played a major part in any decision making.”
Raducanu responded: “I hadn’t seen Judy’s reaction. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.
“I think with every decision, people are entitled to their opinions. Of course, there was a bit of a cloud around the decision.
“I don’t think I would have done it any other way. I think in this sport especially, as an individual, you have to make your own calls and prioritise yourself.
“Especially with my history, I just had to put myself first.”
Nineteen Brits entered the first round last Monday and Tuesday but disappointingly none of them have survived into the second week.
The wildcard said: “It was a difficult match. I gave it my best, I fought really hard.
“I’ve been managing a stiff back since Saturday. I think it was just exaggerated today.
“I was feeling it during the match. I think especially on serve it was affecting me a bit.
“I just need to take the lessons that I can from it, watch it back, improve and keep going.
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“Six months ago when I was starting out after surgery, I would have signed for the fourth round at Wimbledon. Of course I’m disappointed. Of course I want more.
“I think everything does happen for a reason. It just fuels the fire and makes me more hungry.”
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Wimbledon 2024 prize money
PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record - and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.
The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events - an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.
However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 - taking the winner's earnings to £2.7m.
Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:
- Winner: £2.7m
- Runner-up: £1.4m
- Semi-finalists: £715,000
- Quarter-finalists: £375,000
- Fourth round: £226,000
- Third round: £143,000
- Second round: £93,000
- First round: £60,000
- Overall total: £50m
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist