Emma Raducanu hits nail on the head as Wimbledon chiefs sent clear message about rule change
Emma Raducanu has made her stance on Wimbledon walkouts and pull-outs incredibly clear after her opponent flaked on their initial game this week.
The former US Open star was initially set to face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of the tournament on Monday, but her Russian peer pulled out due to illness just hours before the match. Although walkovers are sometimes given - which allows the fit competitor to advance to the next round without playing - the tournament was still in its early days. As a result, a fresh opponent was found for Raducanu.
Raducanu was subsequently asked at a press conference this week if there should be a minimum allotted time for a player to pull-out of a game before their opponent receives a walkover. She said: "I think it's difficult because I've been in the player's side. You're always hoping when I wake up in the morning I'm going to feel a lot better.
"Whether it's with illness, whether it's with injury. You're like, 'Okay, I'm going to see how it is in the morning'. I think it is good how it is, to be honest. It's just more having to deal with those consequences." The 21-year-old instead faced Renata Zarazua on Centre Court - securing a convincing 7-6, 6-3 victory. She will face Belgian talent Elise Mertens in the second round of the competition on Wednesday as the competition advances.
Raducanu's response to the question was measured when most would agree having little time to prepare for a match, particularly at Wimbledon of all places, is not ideal. Having experienced both sides of the argument, Raducanu is best placed to give an opinion and still believes that taking on an opponent at short notice is better than a walkover, which would have benefitted her in allowing her to progress through to round two with ease.
Alexandrova isn't the only female to pull out of this year's Wimbledon tournament either, with World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka both withdrawing. Sabalenka was forced out through injury following a shoulder problem at the Berlin Open last month, while Azarenka also submitted to a similar injury of her own.
Perhaps the most famous case of a walkover in tennis history came back in 2022, when Nick Kyrgios was handed a bye to the final of the tournament when Rafael Nadal was unable to compete with him in the semis. The Spaniard would suffer an abdominal tear in his quarter-final match-up with Taylor Fritz - and despite winning the match three games to five, the 22-time Grand Slam winner was forced to withdraw from his game with Aussie Kyrgios.
Alexandrova pulled out just hours before
Raducanu's last-minute replacement comes as two-time champion Andy Murray pulled out of his clash with Tomas Machac - and ultimately the entire Singles tournament - just hours before the two were set to grace Court 17. Heavily expected to be the Scotsman's last shot at the London-based Grand Slam, the 37-year-old is planning to retire later this year - with hopes of one last crack at greatness on the way out.
The tennis great had back surgery ten days ago to remove a cyst close to his spinal cord, and while he hoped to have recovered in time for his game on Tuesday, it was too much, too soon for Murray. Instead, the 2013 and 2016 champion will wave farewell to the tournament in the Doubles tournament alongside his brother Jamie - with their first game set to take place Wednesday against Australians John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.
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