Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will not participate in this year’s tournament following recent back surgery, as confirmed by the ATP Tour on Sunday. “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,” stated the ATP on X (formerly Twitter). The 37-year-old Scot, who won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, had hoped to make a farewell appearance at the prestigious grass court Grand Slam. However, with Wimbledon set to begin on July 1, Murray’s recovery is expected to take around six weeks, putting his participation out of the question.
Murray is also in a race against time to recover for next month’s Paris Olympics, where he aims to compete as a two-time gold medalist in the singles category.
During a warm-up event at Queen’s Club in London, Murray managed to play just five games before a back injury forced him to retire from his second-round match against Australia’s Jordan Thompson. The former world number one, who has previously undergone hip replacement surgery, reported feeling weakness in his right leg and a loss of coordination during the match.
“I never had that loss of coordination, control, and strength in my leg before,” Murray explained after retiring from the match. “I’ve been struggling with my back for a while — I had lost the power in my right leg so lost all motor control, I had no coordination and couldn’t really move.”
When asked about his Wimbledon prospects, Murray admitted: “Like all tennis players, we have degenerative 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 to help the right side.”
Murray, who underwent minor back surgery in 2013, indicated that he would need further treatment after his first-round exit at the French Open due to persistent soreness.
Having only returned to competitive play in May following a nearly two-month absence due to an ankle injury, Murray had planned to compete in both singles and doubles with his brother Jamie at Wimbledon. There was also speculation that he might conclude his illustrious career at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
