Andy Murray is set to undergo back surgery this weekend, with his final appearance at Wimbledon in serious doubt.
The 37-year-old Murray - who is expected to call time on his illustrious 20-year tennis career later this summer - was forced to quit injured from his second-round match against Jordan Thompson in a sad end to his Queen’s Club farewell on Wednesday after a back issue flared up.
It was the right side of Murray’s back that was causing the problem, rather than the left side that was previously operated on in 2013, leaving him complaining of sudden weakness and a lack of coordination in his right leg.
Murray did not move well from the outset against Thompson after an early serve and received treatment led on court during an early medical timeout before trying to play on and ultimately retiring after just five games.
He subsequently underwent scans after expressing hope that something could be done about the back problem before he plans to play at Wimbledon for likely the final time from July 1, with the Olympic Games in Paris supposed to follow for his swansong.
Murray’s management team have now confirmed that he will have a back operation on Saturday, after which a more definitive time frame for his return can be established.
He has not been ruled out of playing at Wimbledon yet, though would obviously need to recover very quickly indeed with just over a week to go now before the action starts at the All England Club.
Murray had planned to play singles at SW19 and also enter the men’s doubles competition with older brother Jamie.
“Andy is having a procedure on his back tomorrow,” a statement released on Friday read. “We will know more after this has taken place and will update further as soon as possible."
Discussing his injury at Queen’s earlier this week, a frustrated Murray said: “Maybe there is something that can be done between now and then [Wimbledon] to help the right side.
“I will get scans and get it rechecked, and see if there’s anything that can be done.
“My back’s been a problem for quite a while and it’s been sore in the build-up to the tournament. It was sore through today but I was able to manage it. I wasn’t comfortable playing but I was able to manage it.
“But I didn’t really realise until I was walking off to go on court. In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t gone on there because it was pretty awkward for everyone.
“The right leg just was not working properly,” he explained. “I have dealt with back issues for a long time, for the last 10 years or so, and it’s probably quite common for a lot of players.
“But I have never had that loss of coordination, loss of control, strength in the leg before.”
