Andy Murray has received a fresh opportunity to compete in the doubles at Wimbledon – despite initially being turned down by a past champion.
The British tennis star famously joined forces with Serena Williams for the mixed doubles event in 2019, although she was not his first choice; he had previously approached Ash Barty and Kristina Mladenovic. Barty has now opened up about her reasons for declining Murray’s offer, while also extending an invitation for him to partner with her next year.
Murray’s experiences with mixed doubles at Wimbledon have been somewhat challenging. Over the weekend, Emma Raducanu withdrew from their first-round match due to injury, and five years earlier, Murray had to quickly find a partner after being rejected by two top players, leading to his memorable pairing with Williams.
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But the retired Australian star has offered Murray a chance to return to Wimbledon next year after saying farewell last week. “I would have loved to play mixed doubles with Andy, but singles were my focus, and I had already entered ladies doubles as well,” the three-time Grand Slam champion told Express Sport. “I’m not sure my body would have coped with mixed doubles too.”
Barty is back at Wimbledon for the first time since she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2021, working as a BBC pundit and entering the invitational doubles with her old partner Casey Dellacqua. She added: “Maybe Andy will play in the invitational with me here next year?!” It would be the perfect loophole for two-time Wimbledon champion Murray to play another match at the All England Club after he retires at the Olympics later this summer.
And Barty paid a tribute of her own to the two-time Olympic champion. She said: “Andy has had an incredible career, I have so much respect for him. He deserves all of the accolades he receives; he has done so much for our sport.
“Personally, Andy has always been very kind to me. I value our friendship and wish Andy and his family all the best for whatever comes next. He will be missed on the tour.”
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