Wimbledon at risk of schedule disaster after Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray mixed doubles announcement
Emma Raducanu will play in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray
REUTERS
Wimbledon have been left with a scheduling nightmare after the announcement that Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu will enter the mixed doubles draw.
The three-time major champion pulled out of the singles competition on Tuesday, but confirmed his plans to play in the men's doubles alongside brother Jamie.
And it's now been announced that Murray has teamed up with Raducanu as late entrants into the mixed doubles draw.
That could see Raducanu playing twice on the same day if she makes it through her second-round singles match on Wednesday against Elise Mertens.
Emma Raducanu will play in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray
REUTERS
The 21-year-old has been given a strong chance of making a deep run at Wimbledon with her side of the draw opening up significantly following the withdrawals of Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
She could go on to set up a huge third-round clash with No 9 seed Maria Sakkari, which will likely take place on Friday.
Top stars Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner will also likely be in action on Friday so long as they make it through their respective second-round matches.
But the mixed doubles draw is also set to start on Friday with Wimbledon officials left needing to squeeze in Raducanu and Murray's match.
The blockbuster all-British pairing will need to be put on Centre Court, meaning one of Alcaraz, Gauff and Sinner will have to miss out.
But if Raducanu ends up playing Sakkari then Wimbledon officials will have work out a way to give the British tennis star enough rest in between matches.
There is also the chance that Murray could be playing in the men's doubles draw on Friday with Jamie, although it's expected that will be played on Thursday.
Wimbledon will desperately want to avoid one of their big matches clashing with England's Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland on Saturday.
Emma Raducanu could end up playing twice on Friday
REUTERS
Raducanu has never played mixed doubles competitively and just the once in a women's doubles match back in 2022.
Murray has played in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon once previously when he famously teamed up with Serena Williams in 2019.
The iconic pair reached the third round that year before losing in three sets.
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Andy Murray will also play in the men's doubles
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The 37-year-old does have a mixed doubles Olympics silver medal to his name though after his dream run to the 2012 final with Laura Robson.
The British pair eventually lost to top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi in the final.