Emma Raducanu snubs Olympic wildcard as Andy Murray learns Paris 2024 fate
Andy Murray will be part of Team GB's Olympic tennis squad in Paris this summer, but Emma Raducanu has declined the chance to take part.
Murray has been joined by Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans in the men's singles draw, with Katie Boulter the only representative in the women's singles. Raducanu's ranking is too low for her to qualify, but declined the International Tennis Federation's wildcard offer, per the BBC.
The men's doubles will involve Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury, who have qualified on ranking, while Murray and Evans have also been nominated for the competition. In the women's doubles, Boulter and Heather Watson are two of four British representatives along with Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden.
Raducanu's wildcard offer came by virtue of her status as a grand slam winner. However, the 2021 US Open champion will not be involved in Paris.
“It’s a huge privilege to once again announce our tennis players for Team GB," chef de mission Mark England said. "The calibre of the team gets stronger with every Games, and it is great to see a mix of returning and first time Olympians.
"Two-time Olympic Champion Andy Murray was our flag bearer in Rio, and he continues to lead by example through his commitment to the Olympic Games and Team GB in what will be his fifth Olympics. We are also delighted to welcome back Joe and Neal as returning Olympians, and I am sure they will all pass on the best of their insight to the four debutantes of Katie, Jack, Cam and Dan.”
Iain Bates, head of GB's Olympic tennis team, suggested Raducanu's absence was more of a timing issue than anything else. "I think she feels this isn’t going to be the right timing for her for this summer," he said.
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Emma Raducanu at the Nottingham Open
After an injury-hit 2023 season saw her sit out the Wimbledon Championships, Raducanu has been on the comeback trail of late. She was handed a wildcard for the Nottingham Open, where she overcame Ena Shibahara, Daria Snigur and Fran Jones to reach the semi-finals.
Her semi against defending champion Boulter began on Saturday, with Raducanu taking the opening set on a tie-break. Play was then halted for the day, with the pair resuming their clash on Sunday.
Murray's inclusion in the Team GB selection comes with questions over his long-term future in tennis. The two-time Wimbledon champion has hinted he might not have long left at the top, with plans in place in the event that he announces his retirement during this year's championships.
The 37-year-old is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He first won in 2012, beating Roger Federer in the final in London, and then defended his title against Juan Martin del Potro in Rio four years later.