Andy Murray, a two-time champion was eager to return to Centre Court for a final farewell. However, he was unable to recuperate in time following a surgical procedure on June 22 and withdrew from the tournament approximately eight hours before his scheduled match on the grass.
Murray, aged 37, underwent minor surgery to remove a cyst from his spine, fearing that intense competitive tennis could disrupt his stitches. Regrettably, he does not feel prepared to compete in his round-one match against Tomas Machac, which was set to take place last on Centre Court around 6 pm today.
Nevertheless, he is still slated to compete in doubles alongside his older brother Jamie, with a potential start date as late as Friday. A spokesperson confirmed the unfortunate news, dashing any hopes of a dramatic return next year for a final farewell as he nears retirement.
A statement indicated: “Despite diligently working on his recovery since his surgery just over a week ago, Andy has made the difficult decision not to participate in the singles this year. He is extremely disappointed but has committed to playing doubles with Jamie and anticipates his final Wimbledon appearance.”
Murray underwent surgery after withdrawing due to injury at Queen’s on June 19. He struggled on the court and retired at 4-1 down against Jordan Thompson.
Despite the surgery, the Scot remained optimistic about competing at Wimbledon, where he triumphed in 2013 and 2016. Murray trained with fellow injured British player Kyle Edmund at Wimbledon on Monday, securing a 6-3 2-0 victory. He was intent on allowing his back sufficient time to recover before making a decision.
Murray was replaced in the draw by lucky loser David Goffin, who was defeated in the final round of qualifying last Thursday. Interestingly, Murray clinched Great Britain’s Davis Cup victory against Goffin in 2015.
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Murray stated: “I’ve been practicing for the past few days. I played a set on Sunday, which went well, but I still haven’t regained full feeling and sensation in my leg yet. It’s improving every day. I want to give it the best chance to recover fully.”
Murray made history by becoming the first British man in 77 years to win the men’s singles at Wimbledon when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final, and he secured his second triumph three years later. The All England Club has confirmed preparations to honor Murray with a farewell following his final Championships.
Although it was not confirmed if a statute is being considered, or if Murray himself is directly involved in the arrangements, CEO Sally Bolton stated before the tournament: “We’re prepared with a variety of plans that are adaptable. We are clear on our intentions, but it’s crucial that Andy’s preferences guide us.”
Murray has been chosen for the Team GB Olympics squad and, if fit, is anticipated to retire. The Dunblane hero claimed singles gold at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.
