Judy Murray comes under fire for social media post about Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon mixed doubles withdrawal

Mother knows best? Andy Murray's mother Judy Murray has herself at the center of a social media firestorm over the last two days at Wimbledon after speaking out on Emma Raducanu's withdrawal from the mixed doubles she was expected to play alongside the soon-to-be retiring former world No. 1.

The 2021 US Open champion and Andy Murray had received a wild card for the mixed doubles event at the All England Club, in a move that was expected to prolong the Scot's Wimbledon career. The former world No. 1 has said that this is his last Wimbledon (he'll retire from tennis after the Olympics later this month), and he and his brother Jamie Murray lost in the first round of men's doubles on Thursday. But Raducanu, who's still alive in the women's singles event, pulled the plug on the expected pairing hours ahead of when they were scheduled to take the court on Friday due to tightness in her right wrist.

“I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but got to take care," Raducanu said in a statement. The oft-injurted 21-year-old missed eight months in 2023 following surgery on both wrists and an ankle, and also pulled out of Roland Garros (where she would've needed to play qualifying) in a bid to manage her health.

Read more: Serena Williams lauds Andy Murray: 'You always speak out so much for women'

Media and fan reaction to Raducanu's withdrawal was swift, and commenters were in two distinct camps: Some understood Raducanu exercising caution in the situation, considering her history, while others felt that Murray deserved more respect from the youngster than a last-minute pullout, or that she shouldn't have agreed to enter the mixed doubles in the first place.

But soon, Judy Murray's two-word reply on X, formerly Twitter, to one incredulous journalist was the post heard 'round the world.

"Yes, astonishing."

The blowback was swift. Tabloids were quick to jump on the drama, with headlines to match, and fans, too, flocked to their keyboards to join the conversation. Some said used the post as an avenue through which to criticize Raducanu, while others lambasted Judy Murray for speaking so frankly, and publicly.

One media column called it "reckless," while another said Murray's post was a "thinly-veiled jibe" at Raducanu. Former Wimbledon semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens, who retired from tennis last year, even chimed in.

"I would come out of retirement and make a comeback to experience our doubles mixed 2006 experience again," the Belgian wrote.

But Judy Murray soon contended that her supposed critique actually wasn't much of one at all—at least as far as Raducanu was concerned.

She attempted to diffuse the situation, after briefly setting her X account to private on Saturday, in the early hours of Sunday. She dubbed her initial post as "sarcasm," and hit out instead at the tournament's scheduling.

"Not sure anyone understands sarcasm these days," she wrote. "Pretty sure the scheduling (4th match court 1 with a singles following day) will have played a major part in any decision making."

Reactions to that post, too, were polarized.

"Pretty sure that you could have made that a whole lot clearer and earlier," one fan bristled in reply to Judy Murray.

"Never doubted this woman for a second. Knows the game and raised a son who is a passionate ally of female athletes," another wrote.

Raducanu, so far, hasn't commented on the whole affair. She'll will take on qualifier Lulu Sun in the fourth round on Sunday, a match she's heavily favored to win. Afterwards, she's sure to meet the press. We can only wait and see if there's another twist in this tale to come.