Andy Murray has decided not to compete in the Wimbledon singles, choosing instead to bid farewell to the All England Club by teaming up with his older brother, Jamie, in the doubles.
Murray, who is planning to retire later this year, recently underwent surgery for a back issue just 10 days ago.
The 37-year-old, a Wimbledon champion in 2013 and 2016, was initially slated to face Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic on Centre Court this Tuesday.
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The former world number one had a cyst near his spinal cord removed last Saturday, as it was causing nerve pain in his right leg.
“Despite his incredible efforts in recovery since the operation just over a week ago, Andy has made the very tough decision not to compete in the singles this year,” Murray’s team said in a statement.
“He is extremely disappointed but has confirmed his participation in the doubles with Jamie and is looking forward to his final competition at Wimbledon.”
The Murray brothers, who have never partnered at the Championships before, will play later this week, with the first round of the men’s doubles scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
Wimbledon organisers expressed their regret over Murray’s withdrawal from the singles.
“We are very sorry to hear that Andy won’t be competing in the singles,” a statement read. “We eagerly anticipate watching him in the doubles and celebrating the memories he’s created here.”
Murray’s recent back issue emerged earlier this summer, forcing him to retire from his match against Australia’s Jordan Thompson at Queen’s on June 19 after just five games.
Determined to be fit for a poignant farewell at the venue of his greatest achievements, including an Olympic gold on Centre Court at the 2012 London Games, Murray has fought to recover. He admitted on Sunday that while the surgical area was not painful, he still lacked full sensation in his leg.
He trained for over an hour with former British number one Kyle Edmund on Monday, leading 6-3 2-0 in a practice match before stopping. Murray later decided to prioritize the doubles, announcing his decision on Tuesday morning, just hours before his scheduled match against Machac.
Andy and 38-year-old Jamie previously represented Great Britain in doubles at the London 2012 Olympics at the All England Club, though they were eliminated in the first round. The duo also competed together at the Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Olympics and played a crucial role in Britain’s victorious 2015 Davis Cup campaign.
Looking ahead, Murray had initially feared he would have to retire in 2019 due to hip surgery but made a return to the tour later that year. However, persistent injuries have plagued him, and the three-time major champion indicated earlier this year that he did not intend to “play much past the summer.”
Murray, who also claimed gold at the Rio 2016 Games, hinted last month that retiring at Wimbledon or the Olympics would be “fitting,” given his triumphs in both events. He has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Paris Games next month, with the tennis event set to commence on July 27 on the clay courts at Roland Garros.
In a reflective analysis, BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller noted that the sobering moment of Murray’s final Centre Court singles match has arrived. Despite considering the possibility of not being able to compete, Murray ultimately listened to his rational side, acknowledging the impracticality of a competitive five-set singles match so soon after spinal surgery.
While a doubles farewell wasn’t part of his perfect script, Murray will have his brother Jamie by his side, his family in the stands, and BBC cameras capturing what could be a memorable national television moment.
True to his resilient spirit, Murray remarked over the weekend, “Who says we are going to go out? I think we can win matches.”
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