Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon in shock announcement
Andy Murray will play in the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu
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Andy Murray will team up Emma Raducanu in a blockbuster partnership in the mixed doubles draw at Wimbledon.
The former world No 1 pulled out of the singles draw on Tuesday morning, just hours ahead of his scheduled match with Tomas Machac.
He felt unable to compete in the singles draw, but confirmed his plans to play in the men's doubles alongside brother Jamie.
The Murray brothers are set to take to the court on either Thursday or Friday.
Andy Murray will play in the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu
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But the three-time major champion has now signed up to take part in the mixed doubles draw also alongside British starlet Raducanu.
The 21-year-old came through a testing first-round match in the singles draw on Monday against lucky loser Renata Zarazua.
She faces Elise Mertens in the second round later on Wednesday for a place in the third round.
The mixed doubles competition gets underway on Friday, but Raducanu could end up playing twice that day depending on the schedule.
Her side of the singles draw will be set to play their third-round matches on Friday.
Raducanu heaped praise on Murray earlier this week for the influence he's had on her young career.
"I think the biggest advice is just how he's always taken care of his operations, how he manages his people," she said.
"I haven't really spoken to him so much. I think for me it's just like watching him operate day to day, watching him be absolutely on it with everything.
Emma Raducanu could play twice on the same day on Friday
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"Even in practice now, he's so on it to the minute.
"I think me, when I was a bit younger maybe, showing up 15 minutes before practice to do a few arm curls, swing my hand around and warm up, he's there for an hour and a half doing treatment. He just sets really good examples."
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Andy Murray is playing in his final Wimbledon Championships
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Murray has strongly indicated this will be his final Wimbledon Championships before retirement with the Olympics set to be his swansong.
However, Novak Djokovic feels there's still a chance his old rival could try and come back next year.
"Obviously, very sad news for the tournament and for the tennis world to hear that he withdrew from the singles event here in Wimbledon. I hear that he's going to try to play doubles," he said.
"I mean, hopefully he can get another shot at next year's Wimbledon with singles. Knowing him, he's going to try to do that."