Andy Murray will undergo a scan which will determine whether he plays at Wimbledon after he was forced to retire with an injury at Queen’s Club.
Murray was losing 4-1 in the first set of his second round match against Jordan Thompson when he pulled out, having received treatment around the lower back area and hips after three games. It was later confirmed Murray had an issue with his back.
The 37-year-old is hoping to play at Wimbledon, which begins on July 1 for what is expected to be his last appearance at the Grand Slam.
But the two-time SW19 champion will undergo a scan to determine the extent of the problem which left his right leg numb just before he walked onto Centre Court.
Murray said: “During my pre-match warm-up I was pretty uncomfortable and then I walked up the stairs, just before going on the court, I didn’t have the normal strength in my right leg. It was not a usual feeling.
Thnn the first two balls I hit in the warm-up, my right leg, it was, like, so uncoordinated. I had no coordination. Then, yeah, my right leg just was not working properly.
“In hindsight I wish I hadn’t gone on there because it was pretty awkward for everyone.
“There is nothing I could do, and then there is part of you that wants to go out there and see if it gets better, you know, and maybe feel better with a bit of treatment or something, but that wasn’t the case.”
Asked about whether he fears missing Wimbledon, Murray added: “I wouldn’t know.
“Like all tennis players, we have degenerative sort of joints and stuff in the back but it’s all predominantly been left-sided for me my whole career. I have never had too many issues with the right side.
“So maybe there is something that can be done between now and then, you know, to help the right side.
“I will get scans tomorrow [Thursday] and get it rechecked and see if there’s anything that can be done.”
Thompson has, almost unwittingly, played a major part in Murray’s recent history at the west London tournament.
It was in 2017 when Murray, then world No 1 and defending the last of his five titles, was beaten by lucky loser Thompson as the hip problems which would eventually require drastic surgery were really beginning to bite.
“Never the way you want to go through, especially with a great champion like Andy. This tournament he’s dominated and he loves the grass,” said Thompson.
“I was looking forward to coming out and playing in front of everyone. A disappointing way to finish.”
Murray walked gingerly out onto the court and it quickly became clear he was not moving properly as he lost the opening two games.
