Andy Murray’s Wimbledon swansong looks in serious doubt after he was forced to retire from his second-round tennis match at the Queen’s Club Championships with a back injury.
The two-time SW19 champion will undergo a scan to determine the extent of the problem which left his right leg numb just before he walked on to Centre Court at Queen’s to face Australian Jordan Thompson.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Andy Murray’s Wimbledon hopes in jeopardy after injury at Queen’s.
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Murray was clearly in pain during the warm-up and his right leg and hip seemed to buckle underneath him as he served for the first time in the match.
The 37-year-old had extensive treatment after three games on his right hip — which he had replaced in 2019 — his right knee and his lower back.
He tried to play on but was eventually forced to call it a day, shaking hands with Thompson at 4-1 down before exiting a stunned Centre Court, upon which he has been crowned champion a record five times, for probably the last time.
“Well, sad scenes here at Queen’s on centre court. As ever, an awful lot of love for the former world No.1 on one of the courts where he has enjoyed some of his greatest success — five times a champion here at Queen’s,” Lee Goodall said on commentary.
“It just wasn’t to be today. This could be the last time we see Andy on this famous court.”
With Wimbledon less than a fortnight away, Murray’s participation appears unlikely, although he refused to rule out one last appearance before his anticipated retirement later this year.
“During my pre-match warm-up I was pretty uncomfortable and then I walked up the stairs, just before going on the court, I didn’t have the normal strength in my right leg. It was not a usual feeling,” he said.
“Then the first two balls I hit in the warm-up, my right leg, it was, like, so uncoordinated. I had no coordination. Then, yeah, my right leg just was not working properly.
“In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t gone on there because it was pretty awkward for everyone.
“There is nothing I could do, and then there is part of you that wants to go out there and see if it gets better, you know, and maybe feel better with a bit of treatment or something, but that wasn’t the case.”
Pressed on whether he fears missing Wimbledon, Murray added: “I wouldn’t know.
“Like all tennis players, we have degenerative sort of 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.
“I will get scans tomorrow and get it rechecked and see if there’s anything that can be done.”