Andy Murray’s participation in Wimbledon is now in serious doubt following a recent back surgery, as reported by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The three-time Grand Slam champion was forced to retire in the first set of his second-round match against Jordan Thompson at Queen’s Club on Wednesday due to a debilitating injury.
On Sunday, the ATP announced via social media platform X, “After an operation on a spinal cyst, Andy Murray is sadly out of Wimbledon. Rest up and recover Andy, we’ll miss seeing you there.” This post has since been deleted, leaving Murray’s camp yet to officially confirm his withdrawal and sparking speculation about his potential participation.
Murray experienced numbness in his right leg during pre-match warm-ups, which significantly affected his performance. Subsequent scans revealed the severity of the issue, leading to surgery on Saturday. This procedure is expected to sideline Murray for approximately six weeks, casting doubt not only on his Wimbledon appearance but also on his participation in the Paris Olympics.
The 36-year-old tennis star had only recently returned to competitive play after an eight-week hiatus due to damaged ankle ligaments sustained in late March. His comeback was cut short at Queen’s Club, where he recounted his discomfort: “During my pre-match warm-up I was pretty uncomfortable and then I walked up the stairs, just before going on the court, I didn’t have the normal strength in my right leg. It was not a usual feeling.”
Murray elaborated on his condition during the match, stating, “The first two balls I hit in the warm-up, my right leg, it was, like, so uncoordinated. I had no coordination. Then, yeah, my right leg just was not working properly. In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t gone on there because it was pretty awkward for everyone. There is nothing I could do, and then there is part of you that wants to go out there and see if it gets better, you know, and maybe feel better with a bit of treatment or something, but that wasn’t the case.”
Despite his efforts to continue, Murray eventually had to withdraw from the match, receiving a standing ovation from the supportive crowd.
With Wimbledon set to begin on July 1, Murray’s chances of competing are increasingly slim. This tournament was anticipated to be his last appearance at the prestigious Grand Slam event. Fans and the tennis community alike are now left waiting for official confirmation from Murray’s team regarding his recovery and future plans.