End of an era as Andy Murray withdraws from Andy Murray singles


Britain’s Andy Murray attends a Pre-Championships Press Conference in the Media Theatre in the Broadcast Centreon the eve of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships on June 30, 2024. (Photo by Florian EISELE / various sources / AFP) 

Two-time champion Andy Murray called time on his Wimbledon singles career on Tuesday after the “extremely disappointed” former world number one lost his battle to recover from back surgery.

However, the 37-year-old, who plans to retire after the Paris Olympics, will still experience an emotional farewell to the All England Club when he plays doubles with brother Jamie later in the tournament.

Murray underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his back last month, a procedure he described as “not insignificant.”

READ: Andy Murray faces agonizing decision over Wimbledon farewell

The operation left him without full feeling in his right leg and placed in peril his final appearance at the tournament.

As a result Murray doubted if he would recover in time to face Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in his scheduled first-round clash on Centre Court on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” said a statement from Murray’s representatives.

“As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”

READ: Andy Murray uncertain if he’ll play in Paris Olympics

Murray famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion at Wimbledon when he triumphed in 2013.

He added a second title in 2016, taking his career majors total to three after breaking his duck at the 2012 US Open.

That win in New York came just weeks after he had lost his first Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.

 ‘Great guy’

Andy Murray Paris Olympic tennis great britain

Britain’s Andy Murray gestures to the public after playing against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s singles match on day one of the French Open on May 26, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Murray, who has never been defeated in the first round at Wimbledon, has not progressed past the quarter-finals since his 2016 triumph.

The physical stress of 20 years on the tour has taken its toll.

He missed the 2018 tournament with injury and 12 months later sat out the singles after undergoing hip surgery.

READ: Andy Murray’s French Open career ended by Wawrinka in first round

That year, he played men’s doubles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert and mixed doubles with Serena Williams.

Murray has competed with a metal hip since 2019 while this season he damaged ankle ligaments in Miami when he went down to defeat to Machac.

The Scot made his Wimbledon debut in 2005, reaching the third round, where he took a two-set lead before losing in five to 2002 runner-up David Nalbandian.

Fellow three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka hailed Murray as “an amazing champion”.

“He pushed everybody. He won everything in the sport that you can win. He’s been No. 1. He’s been an example for many players,” said the 39-year-old Swiss, who has faced the Briton 23 times since their first clash in 2005.

“He’s a great guy. We’re good friends. We spent so many times together. On the court, in practice court, we practice tons of times together. We always had a good relationship.”

Murray fans had been desperate to see their hero make his Wimbledon farewell.

“He feels like one of our own,” said 40-year-old Lorna Kennedy, who had traveled down to London from Dundee in Scotland.

“He’s done so well and he’s just been so good for the sport.”



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Murray was replaced in the draw on Monday by Belgium’s David Goffin, a lucky loser from qualifying.

Andy Murray faces agonizing decision over Wimbledon farewell


(FILES) Britain’s Andy Murray reacts as he plays against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas during their men’s singles tennis match on the fifth day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2023. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Andy Murray has not yet decided if he will play Wimbledon for the final time despite the ruling body of the men’s tour claiming he has withdrawn from the Grand Slam tournament where he is a two-time champion.

The ATP announced on its official ‘X’ account that the 37-year-old former world number one had pulled out of Wimbledon after undergoing back surgery on Saturday.

“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,” said the ATP.

READ: Andy Murray uncertain if he’ll play in Paris Olympics

However, that message was quickly deleted, leaving a question mark over the fitness of the 2013 and 2016 champion at the All England Club.

Britain’s Daily Telegraph also reported that Murray will be a Wimbledon no-show.

Wimbledon starts on July 1 while Murray also faces a race against time to be fit for next month’s Paris Olympics. The Scot is a two-time gold medallist in Olympics singles.

The draw for Wimbledon takes place on Friday, giving Murray little time to consider his options, but Great Britain Davis Cup captain Leon Smith said the star had yet to make a decision.

“I’ve seen the reports and on social media and that’s not my understanding,” Smith told the BBC on Sunday.

“This has come from one source and had a knock-on effect, a lot of people are reporting it but that’s not my understanding.”

‘Hope for the best’

Smith added: “He (Murray) obviously went through a procedure yesterday (Saturday) and you have to wait and see now. My understanding is no decision has been made and let’s hope for the best for Andy.”

Murray managed just five games before a back injury forced him to withdraw from his second-round match against Australia’s Jordan Thompson at the Queen’s Club warm-up event in London on Wednesday.

The three-time Grand Slam title winner, who plays with a metal hip, struggled from the start of his match against Thompson and said afterward he had a feeling of weakness in his right leg and had lost coordination.

READ: Andy Murray’s French Open career ended by Wawrinka in first round

“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 underwent minor back surgery in 2013 and following a first-round loss at the recent French Open he said he would need treatment to address soreness.

The three-time Grand Slam champion only returned to competitive action in May after nearly two months out with an ankle injury.



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He had been due to play singles and doubles with his brother Jamie at Wimbledon before potentially ending his career at the Olympics.

Andy Murray uncertain if he’ll play in Paris Olympics


FILE–Britain’s Andy Murray gestures to the public after playing against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s singles match on day one of The French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Andy Murray said Sunday he was “not 100 percent sure” he will play at the Paris Olympics despite being selected just hours earlier for his fifth Games.

Murray, who has said he intends to retire later this year, was granted an International Tennis Federation (ITF) place to compete at the Games despite his lowly singles ranking of 97 because he is a former Grand Slam winner and Olympic champion.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will represent Team GB in the men’s doubles and the pairing of Murray and Dan Evans has been nominated for an additional space in that competition, which will be determined by the ITF — the governing body of world tennis who run the tournament — on June 25.

The 37-year-old Murray said his participation at the Games was partly dependent on whether he was involved in the doubles, as well as singles, competition.

READ: Andy Murray named for fifth Olympics

“I am not 100 percent sure,” Murray told reporters at Queen’s Club, while dressed in a Team GB tracksuit. “It depends a little bit physically how I am doing. How the next few weeks go as well. Yeah, my plan just now is to play, but it is not straightforward.

“I’ll find out in the next 10 days or so on the doubles and what’s going to happen there. Hopefully me and Evo get the chance to play.”

Murray, who won Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio in 2016, was one of four British male singles players selected alongside Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans.

It was a landmark day for Draper, the incoming British number one, as just hours later the 22-year-old won his maiden ATP tour title, beating former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in the final of the Stuttgart Open.

Team GB was also notified on Thursday that 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu would be in the mix for an ITF place, but she turned down the chance because of the multiple changes in surface over the coming weeks and after only recently returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.

Katie Boulter — who beat Raducanu in the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open on Sunday — was the sole female player included in the British team.



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Andy Murray named for fifth Olympics


Britain’s Andy Murray gestures to the public after playing against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s singles match on day one of The French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Andy Murray was on Sunday named as one of the four British singles players for the Paris Olympics, which will be his fifth Summer Games.

Murray, who has said he intends to retire later this year, was granted an ITF place to compete at the French Open at Roland Garros despite his lowly singles ranking of 97 due to being a former Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medalist.

Team GB was also notified on Thursday that 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu would be in the mix for an ITF place, but she turned down the chance due to the multiple changes in surface over the coming weeks and after only recently returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.

READ: ‘Proud’ Andy Murray’s French Open career ended in first round

Murray, who won Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio in 2016, is one of four male singles players selected alongside Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans, with Katie Boulter the sole female participant for Britain.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will represent Team GB in the men’s doubles and the pairing of Murray and Evans have been nominated for an additional space in that competition, which will be determined by the ITF – the governing body of world tennis who run the tournament – on June 25.



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