Andy Murray won’t get one last sendoff at Wimbledon.
Murray was scheduled to compete in a mixed doubles match on Saturday that would have been his final appearance at the All England Club. However, Emma Raducanu decided to withdraw due to a sore wrist, leaving Murray without a partner.
The two were scheduled to play Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo as the final game on Court No. 1.
Since the brackets were already set with the official draw, Murray was not allowed to choose a new partner for the match.
“Unfortunately, I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist this morning,” Raducanu said, via the Associated Press. “So therefore I have decided to make the very tough decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles tonight.”
Raducanu will play New Zealand‘s Lulu Sun in a fourth-round match on Sunday.
Though Murray could have received one last farewell from the crowd at Wimbledon, he already got a warm goodbye from his fellow Brits at Center Court on Thursday, in addition to a tribute video, following his defeat in a men’s doubles match with brother Jamie. That ended up being his final match at the hallowed London venue.
“It’s hard because I would love to keep playing but I can’t,” Murray said on the court after the match.
“Physically, it is too tough now. All of the injuries, they have added up and they haven’t been insignificant,” he added. “I want to play forever, I love the sport and it’s given me so much. It’s taught me loads of lessons over the years I can use for the rest of my life. I don’t want to stop so it is hard.”
Murray won two of his three career Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon, finishing on top in 2013 and 2016. (He won the 2012 U.S. Open, as well.) During his career, Murray has undergone back surgery and two procedures on his hip. Following spinal cyst surgery earlier this year, he announced plans to retire, likely after competing at the Paris Olympics.
Longtime rival Novak Djokovic said he doesn’t quite believe Murray is finished, however.
“I do wish him all the best in his farewell,” he said during Thursday’s on-court ceremony. “But I wouldnât be surprised if he decides to come back again. Heâs an incredible competitor. Resilience that you can definitely study and teach young athletes.”
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