Andy Murray, the two-time Wimbledon champion and three-time Grand Slam winner, has confirmed he will not compete at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, starting June 30, marking his first absence from the tournament since his professional debut in 2005. The 37-year-old Scot, who retired after the 2024 Paris Olympics, cited ongoing recovery from a back operation in June 2024 as a key factor, telling *BBC Sport* on June 25, 2025, “I’m not ready to return to competitive play, and Wimbledon deserves my best.” Murray, who won SW19 in 2013 and 2016, is instead focusing on his new role as Novak Djokovic’s coach and will be honored with a statue at the All England Club, per *The Mirror* on June 24, 2025.
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and World No. 38, has decided to compete at Wimbledon despite withdrawing from the Bad Homburg Open due to persistent back spasms. After a second-round loss to Maya Joint at the Eastbourne Open (4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)) on June 25, Raducanu told *The Mirror*, “I’ve just been managing it, but I think I will step on the court regardless.” Her back issues, which flared up in Strasbourg and required a medical timeout at Queen’s Club, are being treated with acupuncture and muscle stimulation, per *The Standard*. Despite the injury, she remains optimistic, viewing her early Eastbourne exit as a chance to rest before her wildcard appearance at Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round in 2021 and 2024.
The decision follows last year’s controversy when Raducanu’s withdrawal from a mixed doubles match with Murray at Wimbledon 2024 due to wrist stiffness ended his SW19 career prematurely, drawing criticism from fans and Judy Murray, who called it “astonishing,” per *The Guardian*. Raducanu later apologized, texting Murray to smooth things over, and confirmed in January 2025 at the Australian Open that there’s “no bad blood,” per *The Independent*. Murray, gracious in response, told *BBC Breakfast* on July 25, 2024, “Athletes make decisions best for themselves, and I respect that,” per.[](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/06/andy-murray-wimbledon-career-over-emma-raducanu-pulls-out-of-mixed-doubles)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-14290929/Emma-Raducanu-Andy-Murray-controversial-withdrawal-Wimbledon.html)
Raducanu’s commitment to Wimbledon, despite her injury, contrasts with Murray’s choice to prioritize recovery, highlighting their differing career stages. Fans on X, like @TennisFanUK, are hopeful Raducanu can replicate her 2021 form, while @MurrayLegacy lauded Murray’s decision to step back, noting, “Legend deserves to enjoy retirement.” As Raducanu prepares to face a tough field, including Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka, her resilience will be tested, while Murray’s absence marks the end of an era.
