Murray and Raducanu to team up in Wimbledon mixed doubles

Andy Murray will play with Emma Raducanu in a superstar mixed doubles partnership as part of his Wimbledon farewell.

Murray, 37, is playing at the Championships for the final time before retiring later this year.

The two-time men’s singles champion decided on Tuesday he was not fit enough to play in the singles after a recent back operation.

Murray will play in the men’s doubles alongside older brother Jamie and has now also opted to join forces with fellow Briton Raducanu in an eye-catching pairing.

Asked after practice on Wednesday how it came about, Murray said: “I was chatting to my team and discussing mixed, so I messaged her coach and asked if he thought it might be something she’d be up for doing. He said it was worth asking, so I did.”

Despite Murray’s worries he had messaged Raducanu too late in the day, he said: “Thankfully, I got a quick reply.

“She said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it’. That was it.”

Murray played with American great Serena Williams in the 2019 mixed doubles at Wimbledon, describing it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

Playing alongside 2021 US Open champion Raducanu is set to be another special occasion in the final weeks of his illustrious career.

“I chatted a bit with my team about [mixed doubles] and they said ‘what exactly are you trying to get out of it?'” Murray said.

“Firstly, we want to be competitive in the matches – and playing with another Brit was going to be something that would be nice.”

He added Raducanu is “obviously one of the top British players” and was “top of the list” as a doubles partner.

Speaking on Monday, Raducanu said that teaming up with Murray in the Wimbledon mixed doubles was “always a childhood dream”.

“Wimbledon is Andy Murray on Centre Court,” she said.

The mixed doubles is set to start on Friday, with first-round matches also being played on Saturday.

Murray’s opening men’s doubles match with Jamie is third match on Centre Court on Thursday.