Andy Murray will undergo a medical procedure on his back which will determine whether he plays at Wimbledon after he was forced to retire with an injury at Queen’s Club.
Murray was losing 4-1 in the first set of his second round match against Jordan Thompson when he pulled out, having received treatment around the lower back area and hips after three games. It was later confirmed Murray had an issue with his back and will have surgery on Saturday.
The 37-year-old is hoping to play at Wimbledon, which begins on July 1 for what is expected to be his last appearance at the Grand Slam.
But the two-time champion at the All England Club underwent a scan to determine the extent of the problem which left his right leg numb just before he walked onto Centre Court.
Murray said: “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.
“Then 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.”
Asked about whether he fears missing Wimbledon, Murray added: “I wouldn’t know.
“Like all tennis players, we have degenerative sort of joints and stuff in the back but it’s all predominantly been left-sided for me my whole career. I have never had too many issues with the right side.
“So maybe there is something that can be done between now and then, you know, to help the right side.
“I will get scans tomorrow [Thursday] and get it rechecked and see if there’s anything that can be done.”
Murray walked gingerly out onto the court and it quickly became clear he was not moving properly as he lost the opening two games.
He held serve but lost two more games before deciding to retire, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he waved to the spectators.
Murray, who only returned to action last month after eight weeks out due to damaged ankle ligaments in late March, is set to play in singles and the men’s doubles alongside brother Jamie Murray at Wimbledon.
The Olympic Games in Paris follow with Murray named in Great Britain’s squad after the International Tennis Federation awarded him a place having won singles gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Tennis at the Olympics begins on July 27, with Murray nominated to play singles and men’s doubles with Dan Evans.
He has indicated he will retire after this summer.
A huge blow for Murray ahead of likely retirement
Sky Sports’ Nigel Chiu:
“This is a massive blow for Murray. He’s come back from injury so many times and got back into the world’s top 40 last year after career-threatening hip surgery in 2019, which no singles player had ever been able to come back from.
“Murray will do everything to play at Wimbledon, even if he’s only 60 per cent fit, but it’s not how he will want to play what will likely be his last appearance at the All-England Club.
“There are less than two weeks until Wimbledon and Murray will surely just rest up as much as possible before the start of July. Maybe this time it’s one step too far for Murray’s body. Can he recover one last time?
“It’s the second injury issue for a British player on two days at Queen’s after Dan Evans slipped and injured his knee.
“Evans said it would be hard to swallow if he misses Wimbledon or the Olympics, so there are two British players now in a race to get fit, but you can’t help but not feel too positive about either of their hopes.”
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