Two notable points about the Great Britain Olympic tennis team are that Andy Murray is expected to participate, while Emma Raducanu has declined a special invitation to the Games. The 2021 US Open champion, recovering from ankle and wrist surgeries, turned down a wild card entry designated for former Slam champions. With only two spots available per draw and higher-ranked champions like Osaka, Kerber, and Wozniacki ahead of her, Raducanu opted out after receiving a last-minute invitation. She cited the physical risks of quickly transitioning from grass to clay after Wimbledon as a reason for her decision, following her loss to Katie Boulter in Nottingham.
Raducanu stressed the importance of prioritizing her health to achieve her goals without unnecessary strain, given her injury history. Ian Bates, the British Olympic team selector, acknowledged that while the Olympics are significant to Raducanu, she felt this wasn’t the right time for her and expressed hope for her future Olympic appearances.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) announced that the men’s singles team for the upcoming Olympics will include Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Dan Evans, and Andy Murray. Norrie, Draper, and Evans qualified based on their rankings, while Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Olympic singles gold medalist, secured his spot through a quota reserved for Grand Slam champions and Olympic gold medalists.
