Ex-champion Murray out of Wimbledon after back surgery

• Published On: 23 June 2024 at 19:40

Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, has been ruled out of this year's championship after having back surgery, the ATP Tour announced on Sunday.

"Andy Murray will miss Wimbledon due to a spinal cyst procedure. Rest up and recover, Andy; we'll miss seeing you there," the ATP wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The Scot had planned to make a farewell appearance at the grass court Grand Slam, which he won in 2013 and 2016.

However, the 37-year-old would require approximately six weeks to recover following surgery, with Wimbledon beginning on July 1.


He now faces a battle against time to be fit for next month's Paris Olympics, where Murray has won two gold medals in singles.

Murray has just played five games before withdrawing from his second-round match against Jordan Thompson of Australia at the Queen's warm-up event in London on Wednesday due to a back issue.

The former world number one, who plays with a metal hip, battled from the start of his match against Thompson, later stating that he felt weakness in his right leg and had lost coordination.


"I'd never had that loss of coordination, control, and strength in my leg before," Murray remarked immediately after retiring from his match against 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."

When asked about his chances of participating at Wimbledon, he said, "Like all tennis players, we have degenerative joints and stuff in the back, but it's all been left-sided for me my entire career."

"I've never experienced too many troubles with my right side. So maybe there's something we can do between now and then to improve the right side."

Murray had minor back surgery in 2013, and following a first-round loss at the French Open, he stated that he would require treatment to manage discomfort.

The three-time Grand Slam champion returned to competition in May, nearly two months after suffering an ankle injury.

He had planned to play singles and doubles with his brother Jamie at Wimbledon before maybe concluding his career at the Olympics in Paris.