Only competing in doubles Tennis hero Murray loses fight for big Wimbledon farewell
02.07.2024, 13:12
Andy Murray fought until the last minute for what was probably his last singles start at Wimbledon, but it wasn’t enough: the three-time Grand Slam champion lost the fight and had to withdraw. He could celebrate his farewell to the most important tennis tournament in the world at his brother’s side.
Andy Murray’s eagerly awaited Wimbledon farewell in singles has been cancelled. The 37-year-old has cancelled his hoped-for start in the third Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season at short notice, the organisers announced. The two-time Wimbledon winner was due to play on Centre Court in the evening for his first-round match against the Czech Tomas Machac. He should still be able to play in doubles alongside his brother Jamie Murray.
Although he has worked incredibly hard to get fit again after his operation just over a week ago, Murray has made the “very difficult decision” not to play singles this year, Murray’s team said in a statement. “He is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will play doubles with Jamie and is looking forward to competing at Wimbledon one last time.”
Double Olympic champion faces retirement
Murray had to undergo an operation on his back to remove a cyst. As the Scot reported at Wimbledon, the cyst was pressing on a nerve and affecting the feeling in his right leg. However, the two-time Olympic champion wanted to keep the chance of competing in his home Grand Slam tournament one last time before the end of his career open until the very end. “I’ve tried everything I can to try to be ready. I don’t know if that will be enough,” Murray said.
Murray is one of the dazzling greats of tennis. He won three Grand Slam titles in the era of the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He triumphed at the US Open in 2012 and at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. With his first title at Wimbledon, he ended the British’s long wait for a home winner and became the first Briton in 77 years to win in the men’s singles. In 2012 in London and four years later in Rio de Janeiro, he celebrated winning the Olympic gold medal.
In Queens, Murray had to abandon his Wimbledon preparations. He has been struggling with various physical problems and injuries for a long time. He had announced that he would most likely not continue his career beyond the summer. He would like to compete again at the Olympic Games in Paris.
2024-07-02 11:12:00
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