Emma Raducanu has warned people not to write off Andy Murray’s chances of playing at Wimbledon just yet as he battles to return from back surgery to compete at his home grand slam for a final time.
Murray underwent an operation to remove a spinal cyst on Saturday and is now racing through his rehabilitation in order to make an unlikely comeback in time for Wimbledon.
The 37-year-old has made it clear that Wimbledon and then the subsequent Olympics will be his career swansong but the surgery means he might yet be denied that on-court farewell.
A statement by the ATP Tour had initially announced Murray’s withdrawal from Wimbledon but it was soon deleted. A more-recent statement from the Briton’s camp said on Monday that no decision had been made and he was still working hard to be fit.
Raducanu, speaking ahead of playing Sloane Stephens at Eastbourne on Tuesday afternoon, said: “I think it’s very easy to jump to conclusions very quickly. I don’t know what’s going on at all but I just wouldn’t believe everything that’s said in the press because a lot of the time it’s not the full story at all.”
The 21-year-old admitted it would be sad if Murray failed in his fitness race for Wimbledon but said she continued to be inspired by him in the way she goes about her tennis.
“Watching Andy at Wimbledon is so special,” she said. “I just see him operate day to day, how professional he is, how he’s in the gym an hour and a half before practice, how he goes about his thing.
“It’s just nice to have that influence. He sets really good stands and all of us love to have him around. It’s nice to also see him hitting with the other boys and the other players. I think they all get really inspired when they play with him too.”
Raducanu has had a strong start on the grass already this summer. Having opted to forego the clay-court season after lengthy consultations with her medical team, she reached the semi-finals of Nottingham where she lost in a tight three-set match against Katie Boulter.
The former US Open champion also said her injury setbacks and having to undergo triple surgery – on both wrists and an ankle – last year had made her come back stronger.
“Someone actually commented the other day, ‘It’s like you’re back to your old self’,” she said. “And I would actually say, ‘No, it’s my new self’, because I have the experiences that I’ve learned from the past too. I really feel in a lot better spirits on and off the court.”
Like Murray, Novak Djokovic is in a race to be fit for Wimbledon. The Serbian, wearing a knee support, practised for two hours at the All England Club yesterday seemingly without difficulties.
And despite having undergo a major operation on the torn meniscus in his knee, he said he was confident of capping a remarkable comeback by playing next week.
Djokovic will make an official decision before the main draw on Friday morning but said post-practice: “I didn’t come here to play a few rounds. If I know I can play close to my maximum or at maximum, then I’ll play. If not, then I’ll give somebody else a chance to play.
“I really will only play if I know I am in a state which is good enough to go far in the tournament and fight for the title, so that’s the condition.
“Rehab is going in the right direction every single day, a few per cent better and better. That’s what’s giving me hope and encouragement to keep going.”
