The tennis squad representing Great Britain at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been officially announced, with 21-year-old Emma Raducanu declining the opportunity to compete, and two-time gold medallist Andy Murray poised to make his mark at the prestigious event.
Raducanu, who gained widespread acclaim as the 2021 US Open champion, has opted not to represent Great Britain at the upcoming Olympics. Her decision is due to her current ranking, which falls below the qualifying threshold as a result of her ongoing recovery from wrist and ankle surgeries undergone last year. Despite being offered one of the two places reserved for former Grand Slam champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Raducanu has chosen to focus on her recuperation and development at this point.
In contrast, Murray, who clinched gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, has been granted an ITF place to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking a potential swansong for the 37-year-old in what could be the final tournament of his illustrious career.
The formal reveal of Great Britain’s tennis squad took place at Queen’s Club, where it was confirmed that Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, and Dan Evans would join Murray in the men’s singles category. Katie Boulter stands as the sole British representative to have qualified by ranking for the Games in the women’s singles.
Moreover, the men’s doubles will witness the participation of Murray and Evans, alongside the pair of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, who will compete based on their world ranking. The women’s doubles will see Boulter and Heather Watson, as well as Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, forming the British pairs to contend for doubles glory at the Olympics.
As the build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics gains momentum, the ITF is scheduled to release the full entry list on 4 July, providing a comprehensive overview of the participating athletes and the competitive landscape.
With Raducanu’s withdrawal and Murray’s confirmation, the anticipation and excitement surrounding the tennis events at the Olympics have escalated. As the Great Britain tennis squad takes shape, all eyes will be on the athletes as they prepare to embark on their quest for Olympic glory in Paris.