Emma Raducanu has been openly criticised by Dan Evans – Andy Murray’s doubles partner for the Olympic Games – for snubbing the Scot in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon
Dan Evans has criticised Emma Raducanu for not being 100 per cent committed to playing doubles with Andy Murray at Wimbledon.
Raducanu made headlines on Saturday when she decided to pull out of playing alongside Murray in the mixed doubles. Her decision ended Murray’s career at Wimbledon after he skipped the singles and was beaten in the first round of the men’s doubles with his brother Jamie.
Judy Murray was among those to react, calling Raducanu’s late call “astonishing” before claiming that she was being sarcastic. Raducanu cited a sore wrist in her statement, which came after her win over Maria Sakkari on Friday night and her last-16 match against Lulu Sun on Sunday, which she went on to lose.
Evans played doubles with Murray at the French Open earlier this year and will do the same at the Olympic Games. He understands Raducanu prioritising the singles, but feels the timing of her decision was poor.
“It’s just unfortunate how it played out, with Emma pulling out a few hours before their match on Court No 1 because she had a sore wrist,” Evans wrote for the Daily Mail. “Of course the singles is a player’s priority – the prize money on offer is substantially more – and that will always be Emma’s main focus.
“But once you agree to play doubles with someone – especially in a special situation like this – then you should be fully committed to it. I recently played doubles with Andy at Roland-Garros and he waited around all week to play with me, having been knocked out in the singles.
“I can’t blame Emma for pulling out but there’s a lesson in there about not committing unless you’re 100 per cent on board.”
Raducanu said it was a “no-brainer” to pull out after waking up with a stiff wrist on Saturday morning after her Sakkari win. “I have to prioritise myself, my singles and my body,” she said. “I think it was the right decision. I stand by the decision. Obviously it was a tough decision, though, because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Murray is yet to comment on the Raducanu disappointment but is now focused on getting himself fit for the Olympic Games, which start on July 26 in Paris. He is slated to play in the men’s doubles alongside Evans, who said he was “incredibly fortunate” to be given the honour in what could well be Murray’s final tournament before he retires.
The 37-year-old has hinted that he could have a future in coaching, like his mother Judy, while he is also looking forward to spending more time with his four children. Speaking on court after his loss with Jamie in the doubles, he said: “I’ve got a family holiday planned after this, then the Olympics, that’s it.”