Adam WellsJuly 2, 2024
GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Andy Murray’s singles career at Wimbledon is over after he withdrew from his first-round match against Tomas Machac that was set to take place at 1:30 p.m. ET.
In a statement released by his camp on Tuesday, Murray cited a recent surgical procedure on his spine as the reason he won’t be able to play in singles competition.
The Tennis Podcast @TennisPodcastAndy Murray will NOT play singles at #Wimbledon.
He WILL play doubles with Jamie.
Confirms that this will be his final Wimbledon.
Statement below: pic.twitter.com/gTGbuWhTXR
The 37-year-old will play in the doubles competition with his brother, Jamie. Their first match is on Wednesday against Rinky Hijikata and John Peers.
Murray’s status for singles competition at Wimbledon was uncertain leading up to the tournament. He had back surgery on June 22 after retiring from his second-round match against Jordan Thompson at the Cinch Championships three days earlier.
It was later revealed the surgery was to remove a spinal cyst.
Despite the uncertainty around Murray’s availability for the tournament, Wimbledon included him in the bracket for the singles draw. He did make it clear he would be playing in doubles competition, regardless of his decision about playing as a singles competitor.
Tuesday’s decision likely marks the end of Murray’s singles career at Wimbledon. He told reporters last week that he hopes to play through the Olympics before retiring:
“I can’t say for sure that if I wasn’t able to play at Wimbledon, and I didn’t recover in time to play at the Olympics that I wouldn’t consider trying to play another tournament somewhere. But if I’m able to play at Wimbledon and if I’m able to play at the Olympics, that’s most likely going to be it, yeah.”
Murray has only played in 18 singles matches this year and 51 since the start of 2023. He’s dealt with a series of injuries throughout his career, most notably to his hip that required resurfacing surgery in 2018.
This will mark the first time since 2019 that the Scot won’t compete in singles action at Wimbledon, not counting 2020 when the tournament wasn’t held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Murray will be playing in doubles at Wimbledon for just the third time in his career. He most recently did it in 2019 when he and Pierre-Hugues Herbert lost in the second round to Nikola Mektić and Franko Škugor.
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