Andy Murray Withdraws From Wimbledon Singles Tournament

Britain's Andy Murray celebrates winning a point from Britain's Ryan Peniston during the first round men's singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on July 4, 2023. (Alberto Pezzali/AP Photo)

Former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has decided against playing in the singles tournament this year and will instead only compete in the doubles with his brother Jamie.

The 37-year-old Scot is retiring later this year and had surgery on his back 10 days ago, but was due to play 23-year-old Tomas Machac, from the Czech Republic, on Tuesday.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Murray—who won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016—announced he was pulling out of the match, giving Mr. Machac a bye to the second round.

Mr. Murray’s team released a statement, which said, “Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year.”

Last month he had a cyst close to his spinal cord removed because it was causing pain in his right leg.

His team’s statement said, “As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”

The Murray brothers have never played together in a doubles match at Wimbledon, but will play in the first round on either Wednesday or Thursday.

In a statement, the All England Club said it was “sorry” Mr. Murray was unable to compete in the singles but added, “We are so looking forward to seeing you compete in the doubles and celebrating all the memories you have given us.”

Forced to Pull Out of Queen’s Tournament

Mr. Murray’s back pain forced him to pull out of Queen’s—which is traditionally seen as a pre-Wimbledon warm-up tournament—on June 19, after only five games.

But he had the operation and tried to regain fitness because he wanted to play in the singles tournament one last time.

Mr. Murray and his older brother Jamie represented Great Britain in doubles at the London 2012 Olympics, when they lost in the first round.

They also played together at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016.

His Wimbledon record was the best of any British player of the modern era.

He won two finals, lost to Roger Federer in the final in 2012, and made the semi-final four times.

Sports writer Neil Drysdale wrote on social media platform X, “It’s not a huge surprise about Andy Murray withdrawing from the singles, but this wonderfully thrawn Scot’s achievements are indelibly etched in history.”

He added, “Sport may not be a matter of life and death, but Murray has lit up millions of people’s lives and he’s a true Scottish legend!”