Andy Murray has expressed his willingness to take daring steps to compete in Wimbledon for one last time next week.
The former top-ranked men’s player recently underwent surgery to eliminate a cyst on his spine last Saturday.
Following a recent training session, he refrained from assuring his participation in singles at Wimbledon but mentioned that he was making an effort.
“I’m making attempts, though I cannot determine if I’ll be ready in time. My primary focus is on regaining full mobility, which I haven’t achieved yet. Let’s reassess in about 48 hours,” Murray stated to the press following the practice session with a somewhat gloomy tone.
The 37-year-old remains optimistic about appearing on the court against Czech player Tomas Machac on Tuesday.
“There are inherent risks in my endeavor, but I am ready to accept them in pursuit of playing,” he affirmed.
He opted for the operation following his withdrawal from a match against Jordan Thompson, having played just five games in the second round at Queen’s in western London on 19 June.
“The surgery was successful, and my recovery is progressing smoothly. I hit a few balls yesterday without experiencing much discomfort. Nonetheless, nerve injuries have a slow healing process,” he conveyed to journalists on Thursday.
“The timeline for the nerve to reach a stage where I can compete or play remains uncertain – it could be three days, three weeks, or perhaps five weeks. It’s impossible to predict,” he added.
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He has also teamed up with his brother Jamie for the doubles event, which currently presents the most feasible opportunity for his final Wimbledon appearance.
Emma Raducanu conveyed no surprise at witnessing Murray pushing himself to the limits.
“For an event like Wimbledon, you need to push your body and recovery to the utmost limit,” expressed the former US Open victor.
“You must be prepared for any ensuing repercussions during or after the tournament.
“I’m delighted to witness his presence here because, for me, Wimbledon and Andy are synonymous. During my upbringing, he was the hero I admired,” she further stated.
Earlier this week, Murray confirmed that the Paris Olympics will mark the conclusion of his illustrious career.