Raducanu’s positive start to 2025 epitomised by revelation of apology to Andy Murray
The 2021 US Open champion pulled out of the mixed doubles event she was due to play with Andy Murray at last year’s Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu, Australian Open, 2025 © Zuma / Psnewz
Apart from an unfortunate back spasm that hampered her preparations for the season’s opening Grand Slam, Emma Raducanu‘s year has started in a notably positive spirit.
The current world No 61 has just reached her maiden third-round berth at the Australian Open, having come through two very tough examinations in the form of Ekaterina Alexandrova and big-hitting American Amanda Anisimova across the first couple of rounds.
Admittedly, Raducanu faces a mammoth task in her next match when she takes on world No 2 Iga Swiatek. But the significance of her achievements in Melbourne – regardless of the next round’s result – should not be overlooked.
It is only the second time since her career-defining title run in New York that Raducanu has made it through to the third round of a Grand Slam tournament, building on the home success she enjoyed last summer at Wimbledon where she reached the last 16.
Her run in Melbourne this year also marks only the fourth time in eleven main-draw appearances at the majors that the Briton has made it this far.
gutsy wins showcase greater resilience for raducanu
While Raducanu has not produced her vintage best during her progression through the draw in Australia, what is arguably more impressive is the manner in which she has been able to grind out tough victories against high-calibre opponents when her game is operating well below its maximum capability.
Overcoming 15 double-faults in her first-round win over Alexandrova, Raducanu then had to fight back from a break down in each set against Anisimova – as well as endure further back issues – to secure safe passage into the third round.
Both of these wins were testament to the mental fortitude that the former world No 10 has built up over her three-and-a-half years on tour, as these were matches that Raducanu would likely have lost in previous years.
“positive outlook” as raducanu draws line under murray doubles saga
All this has made for a highly positive return to tour life for the 22-year-old in 2025.
“I think this year I’m just approaching it quite holistically, I would say, in the sense of just having good people around me, having a positive outlook,” Raducanu explained in her press conference following victory over Anisimova.
“You know, anything that’s not necessarily serving me, I’m just pretty savage in terms of just prioritizing myself and focusing.
“Anything that wants to try and affect that, I don’t have time for it. No hate. I just don’t want to kind of let that in.”
A similar growing bubble of optimism surrounded Raducanu in the build-up to, and across the opening rounds of, Wimbledon last July before she decided to pull out of the mixed doubles alongside Andy Murray in order to prioritise her singles chances.
Despite being a common and more than reasonable move, this decision led to an unfortunate cascade of criticism and online acrimony, primarily because it meant Murray had already played the final match of his career at SW19.
“I mean, I saw Andy today, and he said, ‘Well done,’ and congratulated me. That was really nice. He’s someone that I look up to a lot. So it’s good to have that pat on the back from him,” Raducanu continued when asked specifically about this issue.
She went on to explain that, at the time, she had in fact messaged Murray personally with an apology.
“Afterwards I sent him a long message basically apologising if I caused any trouble, I guess, at Wimbledon, that’s definitely the last thing I want.
“He’s someone that I’ve grown up looking up to and I don’t want any bad blood or harsh feelings with him. I sent him a long message and he took it really well and responded saying he was disappointed but he understood.”
While in most people’s eyes, this flash-in-the-pan controversy was long put behind both players, an open clarification that there is no “bad blood” between the two and an apology had been issued will be taken as a public and official drawing of the line under the matter.
As Raducanu stands as the sole flag-bearer for Great Britain on the women’s side of the draw, burying the hatchet with one of the country’s greatest ever athletes feels like a significant closing of an unfortunate chapter.
That it comes off the back of reaching her first ever Australian Open third round is only further testament to the undeniably positive manner in which 2025 has begun for Raducanu.
Long may it continue.
