Andy Murray ‘still can’t move properly’ but will take risks to play Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON — Andy Murray says he is willing to take risks on his future health in order to play one last Wimbledon.

Murray, 37, trained twice on Saturday including an hour-long hit at Aorangi Park, SW19’s dedicated practice facility, and i understands he spent the morning working at the off-site training centre in Raynes Park.

The two-time Wimbledon champion is due to start his singles campaign on Tuesday against Czech No 2 Tomas Machac, but his participation remains up in the air because his movement is still restricted.

“There’s risks associated with what I’m trying to do and I’m willing to take that to try and play,” Murray told reporters courtside.

“We’ll see what happens.”

He added: “I need to be able to move properly, which I can’t yet, so let’s see in 48 hours or so. I don’t know. Tough to know how it’s going to progress, really.”

Murray had back surgery just a week ago and was given a range of prognoses, some of which ruled him out of Wimbledon altogether and others which gave him a chance of playing.

He is due to participate in both singles and doubles, although the most likely scenario remains a withdrawal from the former before playing alongside his brother Jamie in the men’s doubles which starts later in the week.

However Andy is yet to start training with his brother, with singles and his own fitness still the focus.

“[The hit on Saturday] was alright, considering. Obviously I haven’t done much for the last week,” Murray said.

“Just trying to do what I can, trying to keep progressing each day. Whether there’s enough time or not, I don’t know, but I’m trying.”

Murray’s effort to regain fitness in such a short period of time has been a source of inspiration throughout the locker room, not least for fellow British US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who fought a late injury scare to play here two years ago but was still in post-operative plaster when the 2023 edition came around.

“I think for a tournament like Wimbledon, especially, you’ll push your body, you’ll push your recovery to the maximum,” Raducanu said on Saturday.

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“You’ll take the consequences that will come after or during, whatever you have to do.

“I think you will just absolutely push yourself to the maximum, and push the people around you to also be at their best.

“I’m very happy to see him here because when I think of Wimbledon, I think of Andy. Growing up, that was the generation, the hero I would look up to.

“I think it just feels right and I really hope that on Tuesday he’s playing that he’s on the match court.”

Few would argue with Raducanu’s desire to see the three-time grand slam winner go out on his own terms, and perhaps his Davis Cup team-mate Cam Norrie summed it up best, when asked what he thought of Murray’s desire for one last dance.

“He loves the sport more than anyone else,” Norrie said.

“He’s passionate about it – I’m not surprised.”