24 June 2024 , 08:35
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Andy Murray has left the door open for a dramatic comeback at Wimbledon after issuing a statement to clarify his fitness following surgery.
Murray had spinal surgery on Saturday after being forced to retire injured while playing Jordan Thompson at Queen's Club on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Scot was diagnosed with a spinal cyst and the injury was thought to have ruled him out of competing at Wimbledon, which begins on July 1.
The ATP posted on X: "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." But the post was later deleted and Davis Cup captain Leon Smith gave fans hope of his participation in SW19 by saying: "He obviously went through a procedure yesterday 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."
That stance has now been confirmed by Murray. A statement from his team read: “Following his surgery on Saturday, Andy is continuing to work with his medical team to confirm when he will return to the court. At this stage, no decisions have been made and we will update further as soon as anything has been finalised.”
Murray has previously stated that he won't play on much beyond this summer, with Wimbledon and the subsequent Olympics planned to provide a fitting swansong to his career. But after returning from ankle ligament damage to play at the French Open, his plans had appeared to have been scuppered by the back injury.
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As well as entering the singles, the two-time Wimbledon champion had planned to play in the men's doubles alongside his brother Jamie. He was then hoping to partner up with Dan Evans at the Paris Olympic Games later in July, but Evans also had to withdraw from Queen's through injury.
Andy Murray underwent surgery on his spine (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)"I’m in limbo a bit. It’s frustrating," Evans said. "If I miss the Olympics or Wimbledon it would be a tough one to swallow, no doubt. I don’t know. I’m just, I’m heartbroken at the minute, to be honest. Yeah, it’s tough.”
Murray is desperate to bow out on a high. Asked last week if he could play at the US Open or Davis Cup, he told BBC Sport: "I don’t think so. Probably if I was going to finish my career I would rather finish at Wimbledon or an Olympic Games – to me that would probably be more fitting. I've had amazing experiences and memories from Wimbledon, but also being part of British Olympics teams."
On the Olympics, he added: "To get a chance to compete at a fifth one is a reason to stay motivated and continue playing. Like I said, a lot of it is based on results and physically how I'm feeling as well."