Monday, December 23, 2024

Paris 2024 Olympics: Emma Raducanu rejects wild card, Andy Murray in – BBC Sport

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Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Raducanu is ranked 209th in the world

Emma Raducanu has turned down the chance to play for Great Britain at this summer’s Olympics – but two-time gold medallist Andy Murray is set to compete in Paris.

Raducanu, 21, is ranked too low to qualify as she continues to come back from surgery on her wrists and ankle last year.

The 2021 US Open champion was offered one of two places by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) that are reserved for former Grand Slam champions.

Raducanu missed the French Open – played on the same clay courts of Roland Garros that will stage the Olympic tennis – to ensure she is fit for the British grass-court swing.

“I have had various conversations with Emma over the last couple of weeks and a slightly longer period where it’s very clear how much being part of a British team at an Olympics would mean to her,” said Iain Bates, head of GB’s Olympic tennis team.

“I think she feels this isn’t going to be the right timing for her for this summer.

“She’s hopefully got many Olympics ahead of her. I’m very comfortable with the decision that she’s made.”

Great Britain’s nominations were announced at Queen’s Club on Sunday.

The ITF will announce the full entry list for Paris 2024 on 4 July.

Murray, who won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, has been given an ITF place for what could be the final tournament of the 37-year-old’s career.

Murray said earlier this year he did not expect to “play much past this summer”.

Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans are set to join Murray in the men’s singles.

Katie Boulter is the only British woman to have qualified by ranking for the Games.

Murray and Dan Evans have also been nominated for the men’s doubles.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will play in the men’s doubles by virtue of their world ranking.

Boulter and Heather Watson have been nominated for the women’s doubles, as have Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden.

The Olympic tennis tournament will run from 27 July to 4 August at Roland Garros, which annually hosts the French Open.

Players will compete across five medal events: women’s singles, men’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.

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