"Andy Murray would have done the same" - Fans slam Boris Becker's "dreadful take" over Emma Raducanu withdrawing from Wimbledon mixed doubles

Boris Becker's opinion that Emma Raducanu should have gone ahead and played mixed doubles with Andy Murray at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships has not gone down well with the majority of tennis fans. Raducanu pulled out of the mixed doubles event citing stiffness in her wrist, as she prioritized her singles campaign instead of what would have been Murray's last career outing at SW19.

Murray had already received a stirring farewell on Wimbledon's iconic Centre Court on Thursday (July 4) after his loss in men's doubles alongside brother Jamie. However, at the time, it was expected that the two-time Wimbledon champion would make one final appearance at the prestigious grasscourt Major with Raducanu.

Things took a drastic turn though on Saturday (June 6) in the hours before the mixed doubles match was scheduled when Raducanu announced her withdrawal. Unsurprisingly, the 2021 US Open champion came under fire for her decision, with Murray's mother Judy seemingly taking a swipe at her on social media as well.

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, in a response to former British-Canadian ATP star Greg Rusedski, suggested that Raducanu should have played with Murray. Rusedski had initially written on X:

"More than understandable Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the mixed doubles. No need to take a risk with the wrist."

Becker disagreed with Rusedski and wrote:

"Why don’t you ask Andy or Judy, how they feel about this…"

Some fans disagreed vehemently with Becker's take, opining that Murray would have done the same had he been in Raducanu's position. The former WTA World No. 10 is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon 2024.

"Murray would pull out in a NY minute if he thought the doubles would hinder his singles," wrote a fan.

"Murray, in his pomp, would do exactly the same thing. She has a chance to do something great in the singles and that’s where the priority should be. Scheduling also didn’t help. 4th match on 1?! How does that help Emma recover for tomorrow?" a fan asked.

"What an astonishingly bad take from you Boris. Emma is thinking about her career. That is all she should be thinking about. Not a farewell match for a player who has already had his career. And Franky, Andy would have done the same if he was in her situation. I promise you," another fan chimed in.

Others blatantly criticized Becker's opinion on the subject.

"I hope you’re not suggesting Emma should have played anyway? If you are then I’m shocked. What a dreadful take! I don’t favour Emma over Andy or vice versa by the way. However, I do believe Emma has the right to put herself first - physically, mentally or otherwise," a fan wrote.

"Stop criticizing Emma Raducanu this was the right thing to do after her win and Andy will understand. I hope he will comment to this fact for Emma's benefit she does not deserve all this crap that we see on here as well as out side," commented another fan.

"I didn’t realise this was Andy Murrays farewell tour. I thought this was a tennis tournament," another fan wrote sarcastically.

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Andy Murray's mother Judy has cleared the air regarding her apparent swipe at Emma Raducanu over her mixed doubles withdrawal

Andy Murray's mother Judy (Source: GETTY)

After receiving backlash for what seemed like a jibe at Raducanu for her withdrawal from the mixed doubles event at SW19, Murray's mother Judy went into damage control mode. The 64-year-old suggested that she was only being sarcastic earlier and that the 2021 US Open champion's withdrawal was understandable given how her matches were scheduled.

"Not sure anyone understands sarcasm these days. Pretty sure the scheduling (4th match court 1 with a singles following day) will have played a major part in any decision making," Judy wrote on X.

Raducanu is set to continue her singles campaign at SW19 in the fourth round against Lulu Sun on Sunday, July 7. If the Brit wins, she will face either Donna Vekic or former World No. 2 Paula Badosa.