Ex-champion Murray out of Wimbledon after back surgery

Andy Murray, the two-time Wimbledon winner, will not be competing in this year’s competition due to back surgery, the ATP Tour announced 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,” the ATP said on X, formerly Twitter.

The Scot, who won the grass court Grand Slam in 2013 and 2016, had planned to make a last appearance there.

But with Wimbledon commencing on July 1, the 37-year-old will require an anticipated six weeks to recuperate from surgery.

Now that Murray has won gold twice in the singles division, he is also in a race against time to be healthy for the Olympics in Paris next month.

Murray only played five games before having to withdraw from his Queen’s warm-up event in London on Wednesday due to a back ailment. He was playing Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the second round.

The former world number one, who uses a metal hip, found it difficult to control his right leg from the beginning of his match against Thompson and later claimed to have lost his coordination.

“I never had that loss of coordination, control and strength in my leg before,” Murray said shortly after retiring from his match with Thompson.

“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.”

Asked then about his prospects of playing at Wimbledon, he added: “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 had minor back surgery in 2013, and he recently stated that he would require treatment to alleviate stiffness after losing in the first round of the French Open.

The three-time Grand Slam champion missed over two months of competition due to an ankle ailment, and he didn’t return until May.

Before perhaps capping his career at the Olympics in Paris, he was scheduled to compete in singles and doubles matches at Wimbledon with his brother Jamie.

AFP