I think it cuts both ways - Murray could have partnered with other players if he was serious about winning mixed doubles (assuming he could find a serious doubles player who was willing to partner with him - since serious doubles players actually want to win the tournament). Raducanu was picked because of her star power - because this pairing was about giving the British fans a chance to clap for Andy one more time, not about a serious title run.ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 2:49 am Special circumstances make things different.
Emma should be very well aware of her physical limitations. Knowing them, she should have made provisions for reaching 4R and being in the mixed tournament.
Not classless, but Murray deserved a bit better. He could have partnered with other players, had he known this.
I don't care if the wrist thing is a completely BS excuse, she did right thing. This Wimbledon run could be career-defining (re-defining?) for her, and this is what singles players do when they have a real chance to go deep at a slam. She doesn't owe Murray a damn thing in this whole business, and she certainly can't be expected to be his PR sidekick for an extended goodbye celebration at the expense of her own career and future. As for the British fans, she owes them nothing in this regard either. They're really hard on their players (remember what they put Henman through?). Had she played and then were she to lose the next round, the press would have criticized her for not being serious enough about her own career. She was in an impossible situation really, I wouldn't be suprised if she had reservations from the start, but felt she couldn't possibly say no to Sir Andy in the first place (can you imagine the backlash if she turned him down?)
The classiest thing for Andy to do right now would be to fully support her decision. He's the single greatest advocate for women the men's game has ever had, a perfect way to put a period on his career would be champion Raducanu's decision to put her own career ahead of propping him up in "exhibition" mixed doubles.