Twice Wimbledon champion Andy Murray pulled out of the singles competition in what is to be his final Wimbledon, the 37-year-old’s management team said yesterday.
He is to play in the doubles with his brother Jamie.
Murray underwent surgery recently to remove a spinal cyst that was compressing his nerves and made him lose control and power in his right leg.
Photo: Reuters
“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” Murray’s team said. “As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed, but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”
He was due to face Czech Tomas Machac in the singles yesterday.
Murray, who in 2013 ended a 77-year wait for a British men’s singles champion at Wimbledon and won the title again in 2016, had previously said he was unlikely to continue his career beyond this year and could bow out at the Olympics in Paris.
In Monday’s action, Coco Gauff dominated fellow American Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2 to banish memories of her Wimbledon nightmare from last year.
Gauff on Sunday said she had been “in a dark place” following her opening round exit in London last year, but armed with the knowledge that things “couldn’t get any worse” this time round, she was simply unstoppable against her 51st-ranked rival.
“Last year I lost in the first round and it was very tough for me, that’s why I am a little emotional and that’s why I was happy to turn it around,” Gauff told the crowd on court.
Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka also celebrated a comeback, saying it felt “like a dream” to claim her first win at Wimbledon since 2018, as she looked forward to celebrating the occasion with her daughter, who turned one yesterda.
The Japanese star, a four-time Grand Slam winner, recovered from a break down in the final set to defeat Diane Parry of France 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 on the back of 34 winners.
“It feels like a dream because I haven’t played here many times,” said Osaka, whose last appearance at the All England Club was in 2019, when she exited in the first round.
Additional reporting by AFP
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