Emma Raducanu has decided not to play for Great Britain at the Olympics this summer, despite being offered one of two places reserved for former Grand Slam champions by the ITF. Instead, Andy Murray, a two-time gold medallist, will be competing in Paris. Raducanu, currently ranked 209th in the world, is still recovering from surgery on her wrists and ankle last year, making her ineligible to qualify for the Olympics at this time.
The 21-year-old US Open champion missed the French Open to ensure she is 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 the women’s doubles.
The Olympic tennis tournament at Roland Garros will take place from 27 July to 4 August, with competitions in women’s singles, men’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The full entry list for Paris 2024 will be announced by the ITF on 4 July.