Andy Murray bids farewell but Emma Raducanu shows there’s life in British tennis
Murray’s emotional farewell headlined a mixed Wimbledon for British players.
As Andy Murray exited the Wimbledon stage for the final time, Emma Raducanu reminded the British public that there is life after the Scot.
Murray battled to be able to make it on to Centre Court one more time and, while he would have much preferred not to be forced into back surgery a week before and struggle through a doubles defeat with brother Jamie, the emotional celebration of his career that followed was the perfect send-off.
You made us dream.
You made us believe.
You made us cry.
And you made us proud. pic.twitter.com/yNsnkEsEhc— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2024
The 21-year-old had not been past the second round at any major since winning the US Open in 2021 but this grass-court season has seen her make major strides again.
She had strong runs in Nottingham and Eastbourne, where she defeated a top-10 player for the first time, and she followed that up by easing past ninth seed Maria Sakkari to make the fourth round at the All England Club.
Defeat by inspired qualifier – Raducanu knows a thing or two about that – Lulu Sun was a disappointing way to end but the smile and free-flowing tennis were back and she will head for the North American hard courts with spirits high.
“It just makes me more determined,” she said. “Tennis is the only thing that is really occupying my time, my mind. It’s all I want to do really. I think that desire and fire is back. I just want to keep building on that.”
keep building on that.”
