ラドゥカヌ、マレーとのウィンブルドン混合複棄権に「後悔ない」

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】女子テニスのエマ・ラドゥカヌが７日、アンディ・マレーとのウィンブルドン選手権混合ダブルスを棄権した物議を醸す判断について、自身を擁護した。（写真は、ウィンブルドン選手権の女子シングルス４回戦で、足を滑らせて倒れたエマ・ラドゥカヌ）
　ラドゥカヌはマレーとのペアで６日に混合ダブルスの試合に出場する予定だったが、７日にルル・スンとの女子シングルス４回戦を控えていた中で、手首の問題を悪化させたくないことを理由に棄権を発表した。
　しかしこの混合ダブルスが、マレーにとって２回の優勝を果たしているウィンブルドンで最後の出場になるはずだったため、その希望を打ち砕いたラドゥカヌの行動が批判を呼んでいる。
　６月に背中の嚢胞（のうほう）を取り除く手術を受けたマレーは、完全回復が間に合わずに男子シングルスには出場できず、兄ジェイミーとのダブルスは１回戦で敗退した。ラドゥカヌの棄権には落胆したといわれており、母親のジュディさんはＸ（旧ツイッター）で、理解を示しながらもラドゥカヌの判断には「驚いている」と投稿した。
　７日のスン戦に２－６、７－５、２－６で敗れたラドゥカヌは、マレーにとって最後のウィンブルドンを台なしにしたことに後悔はあるかと問われ、「きのうの朝、起きたときに張りがあった。自分自身とシングルス、自分の体を優先せざるを得なかった」と答え、「もちろん、最後の試合を彼から奪いたくはなかった。それでも結局、同じ状況に置かれたら多くの選手が同じように自分の体を優先すると思う」話した。
　「私はあの決断を後悔しない。もちろん、つらい決断ではあった」
　マレーはこの後、今月末開幕のパリ五輪でキャリア最後の公式戦に臨む予定となっている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/07/08-18:26）

Emma Raducanu defended her controversial decision which ended Andy Murray's Wimbledon career by withdrawing from their mixed doubles match on the eve of her fourth round singles defeat against Lulu Sun.
Raducanu was scheduled to play with former Wimbledon champion Murray on Saturday, but opted to pull out of the tie due to a stiff wrist.
The 2021 US Open champion wanted to avoid aggravating the problem prior to Sunday's 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 loss to New Zealand qualifier Sun on Centre Court.
But the move provoked criticism as it shattered Murray's hopes of one last appearance at the All England Club.
The two-time Wimbledon champion was unable to play the men's singles as he was not fully recovered from surgery on spinal cyst, while he lost in the first round of the men's doubles alongside brother Jamie.
Murray was said to be disappointed by Raducanu's withdrawal, while the former world number one's mother Judy described the move as astonishing on X, although she later claimed she was being sarcastic and understood the 21-year-old's decision.
Asked if she regretted the move that ruined Murray's Wimbledon farewell, Raducanu said: Yesterday morning I just woke up with stiffness. I have to prioritise myself, my singles and my body.
Of course, I didn't want to take his last match away from him. But at the end of the day I think a lot of the players in a similar situation would have done the same thing, prioritising their body.
I stand by the decision. Yeah, obviously it was a tough decision, though.
Murray is now set to play for the last time in his career at the Paris Olympics, which start in later in July.
- 'Put myself first' -
People are entitled to their opinions. Of course, there was a bit of a cloud around the decision, she said.
I think in this sport especially, as an individual, you have to make your own calls and prioritise yourself. Especially with my history, I just had to put myself first.
Obviously disappointed because it's his last match. But, yeah, what a champion. I think that hopefully he'll play in the Olympics and have another farewell there.
Responding to Murray's mother, Raducanu added: I haven't seen her reaction, so I don't know. Was she sarcastic? I'm sure she didn't mean it.
Raducanu had come into Wimbledon in good form after a dismal period since her fairytale triumph as an 18-year-old at the US Open.
But she still needed a wildcard to enter the singles after falling out of the top 100, making it hard for her to imagine the eventual schedule conflict between the singles and mixed doubles.
I think going into the tournament, I wasn't expecting to make fourth round. So for me it was a no-brainer. I would have loved to have played with him, she said.
He didn't ask me, If you're still in the singles, are you going to play? That was never a question to be answered.
Ironically, Raducanu was troubled by other injuries in her loss to Sun, as back and ankle problems played a role in her last 16 exit.
Despite the frustrating end to her Wimbledon run, Raducanu has finally rediscovered her passion for the sport.
Honestly, it just makes me more determined. I think I really put myself first in the last few weeks. Tennis is the only thing that is really occupying my time, my mind. It's all I want to do really, she said.
I think that desire and fire is back. I just want to keep building on that.