 "Emma Raducanu of Britain has decided to skip voting in UK general elections. AP")
The UK elections are on 4 July and while British tennis star Emma Raducanu is in England, competing at the Wimbledon 2024, she says she will not be voting. Raducanu claimed that she was unaware of a general election taking place on 4 July and has planned to have a “lie-in” on Thursday.
She was asked about her plans to vote at Wimbledon to which she said: “No”.
“I think I’ll have a lie-in, then I’ll come to practise. I didn’t even know it was tomorrow, to be honest. Thanks for letting me know,” said the 21-year-old after reaching the third round at the All England Club.
Raducanu became a tennis sensation in 2021 after she became the first British women player to win a Grand Slam title in 44 years with victory at the US Open.
Apart from Raducanu, fellow Briton Katie Boulter, who has her third-round match at Wimbledon on Thursday, also has no plans to vote.
“I’m going to stick to the tennis right now. I don’t see myself as someone who’s going to get involved in anything but tennis that day for the moment,” she said. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”
Murray in action on election day
Meanwhile, also on election day, tennis legend and Briton Andy Murray will launch his Wimbledon farewell with a men’s doubles match alongside his brother Jamie.
Murray failed to get fit in time for the singles but can still bid farewell by winning both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles at home.
Murray, Wimbledon champion in 2013 and 2016, had an operation last month to remove a spinal cyst.
“I’m hoping maybe for a bit of closure. I just want the opportunity to play one more time out there, hopefully on Centre Court, and feel that buzz,” the 37-year-old said before the tournament started.
The Murray brothers will face Australian pair Rinky Hijikata and John Peers on Thursday.