Andy Murray issued a concerning update on his physical condition after a back injury forced him to retire at the Queen’s Club Championships.
The 37-year-old tennis great revealed he has been dealing with the injury for a while and that his right leg was “not working properly” and had “no coordination.”
Murray was clearly in discomfort as he entered the court for his second round match against Jordan Thompson at Queen’s and, after attempting to play, he pulled out when trailing 1-4 in the first set.
The three-time Grand Slam champion was barely able to move during points and used a medical timeout to receive treatment on his back.
Andy Murray sparks major Wimbledon fears after retiring injured at Queen’s Club
The Brit produced a solid display to defeat world No 48 Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the opening round on Tuesday. This performance now looks even more impressive given what Murray disclosed his back was also an issue during this match.
Following his retirement against Thompson, Murray explained how badly his injury had been hampering him.
“I have been struggling with my back for a while,” he told reporters. “Then, yeah, I had loss of power in my right leg. So loss of motor control, had no coordination. Yeah, couldn’t move.
“Yeah, my back’s been a problem for quite a while and it’s been sore in the build-up to the tournament. It was pretty sore in my match yesterday.
“Yeah, it was sore though today. But I was able to manage it. I wasn’t comfortable playing, but I was able to manage it.
“During my pre-match warmup, I was pretty uncomfortable, and then I walked up the stairs to go to, just before going on the court, I didn’t have, like, the usual just normal strength in my right leg. It was not a usual feeling.
“The first two balls I hit in the warmup, it was complete, like, so uncoordinated. I had no coordination. Then yeah, I wasn’t able to, yeah 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.”
Murray’s injury has cast doubt over his participation at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, which will begin on July 1, giving the Brit 12 days to recover.
Asked about the prospect of missing Wimbledon, the former world No 1 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, you know, to help the right side. I will get scans tomorrow and get it rechecked and see if there’s anything that can be done.”