Andy Murray‘s Wimbledon swansong is in real jeopardy after being forced to retire in his Round of 16 match at the Cinch Championships.
The five-time champion at London’s Queen’s Club upset Alexei Popyrin in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday, in what was his 1000th match at Tour level.
But Murray could not back up that victory in his second-round match against another Australian, Jordan Thompson. Trailing by a double break, the former World No. 1 had to retire because of a back injury, as he could barely run on the court.
Speaking after the match, the 37-year-old asserted that it was unwise of him to play the match in the first place. Murray, who received on-court treatment, explained that he has suffered from back injuries for over a decade, but what he felt at Queen’s was not comparable to his past injuries.
“I wish I hadn’t gone on the court, to be honest. I have been dealing with back pain for the last 11 years of my career, but I have never experienced that before.”
This was Murray’s last appearance at Queen’s before his expected retirement later this summer. However, he did not envisage the manner of his exit, as there is a possibility he might miss Wimbledon.
With just 11 days until the grass-court Grand Slam kicks off at SW19, the two-time former Wimbledon champion is in a race against time. The Times UK reports that he will undergo a scan this morning that could confirm his worst fear.
Murray, who has already dealt with a career-threatening ankle injury at this year’s Miami Open, needs a minor miracle for a perfect sendoff next month. He recently revealed that he wouldn’t be playing beyond this summer, with Wimbledon or the Olympics likely to be his final tournament.
Considering that the Olympic Games will be on clay, a surface that Murray has struggled with since returning from hip surgery, it might be best to avoid playing there. Wimbledon appears to be his last tournament, as he initially said, but will he play?