Emma Raducanu has decided to forgo participating in the Olympics this summer, despite being offered one of two spots reserved for former Grand Slam champions by the ITF. Instead, Andy Murray, a two-time gold medalist, will be competing in Paris. Raducanu, currently ranked 209th in the world, is still recovering from surgery on her wrists and ankle last year and is not eligible to qualify for the Olympics at this time.
The 21-year-old US Open champion missed the French Open to ensure she was fully fit for the upcoming British grass-court swing. Head of GB’s Olympic tennis team, Iain Bates, said that Raducanu had expressed how much being part of a British team at the Olympics meant to her but felt that it was not the right timing for her this summer. Bates expressed understanding and support for the decision Raducanu made.
Meanwhile, Murray, who has won gold at the Olympics in 2012 and 2016, has been given an ITF place for what may be his final tournament at the age of 37. Joining Murray in the men’s singles will be Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, and Dan Evans. Katie Boulter is the only British woman who has qualified by ranking for the Games. Andy Murray and Dan Evans have also been nominated for the men’s doubles along with Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. Boulter and Heather Watson as well as Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden have been nominated for women’s doubles.
The Olympic tennis tournament at Roland Garros will take place from July 27th to August 4th with competitions in women’s singles, men’s singles
