Emma Raducanu has turned down a wildcard to play in the Paris Olympics – despite previously stating her desire to play in the competition.
The 21-year-old was eligible to compete in the Olympics this summer due to her being a past Grand Slam champion. But she turned down the invitation in a disappointing update for the LTA.
The organisation’s head of women’s tennis Ian Bates announced that Katie Boulter will play in the women’s singles. Elsewhere, Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, and Andy Murray will compete in the men’s competitions, with the latter hoping to clinch his second Olympic Gold this summer.
While Raducanu may have rejected the invite this time around, her love of Team GB and the Olympics is clear. During an interview last year, she said: “Of course, I would love to play the Olympics.”
However, she will now have to wait until 2028 to get her first experience of the Games. The Toronto-born ace is currently competing in the Rothesay Open as she bids to get ready for Wimbledon. It is Raducanu’s first tournament appearance since the Madrid Open in late April.
She withdrew from French Open qualifying with an aim to train for the impending grass and American hard court season. She’s now gearing up for the start of Wimbledon next month.
Bates admitted while Raducanu possesses immense passion in representing Team GB, he said the Olympics may have fell at the wrong time for her.
The LTA chief said: “We were notified on Thursday that Emma would be eligible for one of those places and I’ve had various conversations with Emma over the last couple of weeks and it really clear to me how much being part of a British team would mean to her.
“We saw how much it meant when she represented her team in April at the Billie Jean King Cup but also I think she feels it is not the right time for her.
“A lot of that is the late notice for spot, also the surface change from grass, clay and hard. Everyone is aware of her history and that places greater stress on her. Also an element of where her ranking is and getting to the US and pushing back her ranking.”
Raducanu – who was formerly in the world No.10 – returned to the top 200 in the rankings after reaching the semi-final of the Rothesay Open, as Bates commented on her hugely bright future.
“I’m extremely happy she’s on court. Some of the tennis she and Katie played last night was extremely high level. You always want a bigger team in the Olympics because it is such a cool event, but she is 21 and hopefully she has many Olympics in her. From an Olympic team side or the head of women’s tennis side, I’m very comfortable with the decision that she’s made,” he remarked.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk