Tennis hero Murray loses battle for big Wimbledon farewell
Until the last minute, Andy Murray fought to make his likely final singles appearance at Wimbledon, but it wasn't enough: The three-time Grand Slam Champion lost the battle and had to withdraw. Murray could have celebrated his Wimbledon farewell with his brother at his side.
The much-anticipated Wimbledon singles farewell from Andy Murray fell through. The 37-year-old unexpectedly canceled his short-term participation in the third Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, as the organizers announced. Murray was scheduled to take the Centre Court stage for his first-round match against the Czech Tomas Machac in the evening. A possibility of playing in the doubles with his brother Jamie Murray remains.
Despite working incredibly hard to get fit again after his surgery less than a week ago, Murray made the "very difficult decision" not to play singles this year, according to a statement from Murray's team. "He is extremely disappointed but confirmed that he will play doubles with Jamie and is looking forward to one last appearance at Wimbledon."
Two-time Olympic champion nears career end
Murray had to undergo a back surgery to remove a cyst that was pressing on a nerve and affecting the feeling in his right leg. As Murray reported in Wimbledon, the cyst was putting pressure on a nerve and hindering the sensation in his right leg. The two-time Olympic champion wanted to keep the possibility of competing one last time at his home Grand Slam tournament open until the last minute. "I've tried everything I can to be ready. I don't know if that will be enough," Murray had said.
Murray is among the shining tennis stars. He has won three Grand Slam titles in the era of dominating 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 long wait for a British winner and became the first British man since 1936 to win at the men's singles. In 2012 in London and four years later in Rio de Janeiro, he celebrated the Olympic gold medal win.
Murray had to abandon his Wimbledon preparation in Queens. For a long time, he has been dealing with various bodily issues and injuries. He had announced that he was very likely to retire his career beyond the summer. At the Olympics in Paris, he would still like to compete.
Despite the setbacks, Murray expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the doubles event with his brother at Wimbledon, hoping to make one last memorable appearance in a Grand Slam tournament. This year's Wimbledon marked yet another opportunity for Andy Murray to add to his impressive record of three Grand Slam titles, primarily in tennis's most celebrated tournament.
