It’s a final time trial that he would have done well without. Andy Murray would have liked to have the certainty of being able to bid farewell to the British public with great fanfare at Wimbledon (July 1-14). But his body decided otherwise and he was forced to have back surgery at the end of last week to get rid of a cyst in his spine. Some of our British colleagues then hastily announced that he was withdrawing from the London Grand Slam tournament, but the person concerned did not (yet?) withdraw and provided details this Thursday.
Quoted by the Wimbledon organization on social networks, “Sir Andy” confirmed that he had not given up and still hoped to be able to line up. “I think I deserve to have the opportunity to give myself until the last moment to make this decision. It’s complicated, and it’s been made more complicated because I want to play Wimbledon one last time. Given what I have invested in this sport over the last few years, I would like to at least play a decent match in which I feel at least competitive, which didn’t happen at Queen’s“, did he declare.
In the picture but maybe not on the court
Murray took the opportunity to give details of the surgery he underwent. “Although the operation was not major, the problem was serious because if the cyst had continued to grow – already at Queen’s I practically lost the strength, coordination and everything that was in my right leg in going on court – it is likely that there would have been other complications“, he explained.
Murray therefore wants to use the few days that separate him from the start of the tournament next Monday to test himself in training and see if he will be able to play at an honorable level in what would be his last Wimbledon. Consequently, the Scot, twice winner in front of his audience in 2013 and 2016, will be part of the big picture during the draw on Friday.
Playing doubles with Jamie can be special
But he is well aware that recovering in such a short time seems complicated. “I would say it’s more than likely that I won’t be able to play singles“, he said. He could nevertheless say goodbye to the Wimbledon public in another way: by teaming up with his brother in doubles. “Maybe this is what’s supposed to happen for me. Playing doubles with Jamie is something I’ve obviously never done before. It can be special.”
For the future, Murray confirmed that he intended to end his career during the Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11). But will he be able to compete in singles? At this stage, he himself is in uncertainty.
