Late Wimbledon twist as Murray makes miraculous return, Djoker set to play

Andy Murray was Friday named in the Wimbledon singles draw despite undergoing surgery last week, while Novak Djokovic will also play despite concerns since his withdrawal from the French Open.

Murray, the British 37-year-old two-time champion, underwent an operation on a spinal cyst, raising major doubts over his participation.

The former world number one had said on Thursday he was unlikely to be fit enough to play in the singles.

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Murray, who has slumped to 115th in the world in the world, will play Czech player Tomas Machac, ranked 38th, in the first round at Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

The Scot, who plays with a metal hip, went under the knife after experiencing weakness and a loss of co-ordination in his right leg while playing at Queen’s, forcing him to pull out of that tournament.

Murray, who won the Wimbledon title in 2013 and 2016, said he had been told to seek immediate treatment by multiple surgeons.

On Thursday Murray and brother Jamie were awarded the final wildcard for the Wimbledon men’s doubles by the All England Club.

Murray is planning for the Olympics in Paris to be the final event of his career.

Olympic entries will be confirmed next week, with Murray hoping to play singles and doubles with Dan Evans.

Machac holds a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Murray having come out on top in Marseille and Miami this year.

The 23-year-old also stunned Djokovic in the semi-finals in Geneva on the eve of the French Open last month.

Djokovic to play Wimbledon despite injury worry

The seven-time champion at the All England Club was forced to pull out ahead of his quarter-final at Roland Garros against Casper Ruud after tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee.

The 37-year-old Serbian world number two said earlier this week he would only play at Wimbledon if he was fit enough to “fight for the title”.

“I didn’t come here to play a few rounds,” he told the BBC.

“If I know I can play close to my maximum or at maximum, then I’ll play. If not, then I’ll give somebody else a chance to play.

“I really will only play if I know I am in a state which is good enough to go far in the tournament and fight for the title, so that’s the condition.”

Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slams, has reached the Wimbledon final for the past five years, losing a thrilling five-setter last year to Carlos Alcaraz.

He will attempt to win an elusive Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, which start on July 26.