Andy Murray to make last-minute decision on Wimbledon after returning to training following back surgery
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Updated 28/06/2024 at 08:56 GMT
Andy Murray will make a decision on whether to play at Wimbledon “as late as possible” after returning to training following back surgery. The two-time champion had an operation to remove a cyst on Saturday but looks likely to at least be involved in Friday’s draw, before the Championships get started on Monday. This year’s Wimbledon is expected to be Murray’s last before retiring.
Murray withdraws from second-round match at Queen's with injury
Andy Murray has begun training again after back surgery at the weekend and will make a last minute decision on whether to compete at Wimbledon - but says it is not looking likely he will line up in the singles.
The two-time champion had a cyst removed on Saturday, having been forced to retire hurt during his second-round match at Queen’s last week.
There was confusion on Sunday when the ATP Tour posted on social media that he had pulled out - before deleting it.
Murray’s team denied that on Monday, saying he had not made a final decision, with his mother Judy reiterating that, having claimed confidential medical information had been leaked to the media by someone she thought they could “trust”.
But the latest update from Murray is encouraging, ahead of what is expected to be the former world No. 1’s last appearance at Wimbledon before retiring.
"I'm going to wait until the last minute to see if I'm going to be able to play, and I've earned that right to do that," said Murray.
"This is not clear-cut where I am 100% going to be ready to play or there is a 0% chance that I can play. That is the situation.
"I would say it's probably more likely that I'm not able to play singles right now."
The development means Murray’s name may still be in Friday’s draw for the men’s singles, while there had also been talk of Andy linking up with brother Jamie in the doubles before the latest injury surfaced.
The 37-year-old will be hoping to line up on the opposite side of the draw to reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz - who will open play on Centre Court on Monday - as it would mean Murray would not begin his campaign any earlier than Tuesday.
Before the back injury, Murray may have fancied his chances of going deep in the tournament, with fellow British players showing their prowess on grass in recent weeks.
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He pushed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a thriller on Centre Court last year, losing in five sets having been on top in the match before it was suspended due to The All England Club’s 11pm curfew.
Speaking to Eurosport, seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander tipped Murray to cause problems for most players in the draw - if he can approach something like full fitness.
“I think he's at the stage where [he’s thinking] ‘yeah, it could be my last tournament, but I also feel like I have a chance to win Wimbledon’ - because of his knowledge of Wimbledon and the grass court,” he said.
“It's very sad if he doesn't get to play, but I think that will just allow us to see him play one more tournament somewhere because I do think Andy Murray is going to play a match and retire on that court after he's lost his last match.”
Murray is also focusing his attention on the Paris Olympics, which will be held at Roland Garros, with the two-time gold medal winner due to line up in the singles and the doubles, with Dan Evans.
Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 13 and 14, on discovery+
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