Andy Murray has shared a gruesome set of photos that detail the back injury which forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon earlier this month
The issue stemmed from back pain Murray had experienced while playing at Queens, but after going under the knife ahead of the Championship, doctors found a cyst near his spine that needed further treatment.
It was swiftly removed, but the turnaround time proved too short for Murray to properly leave his mark at Wimbledon.
The Scottish icon was due to face Tomas Machac in the opening round of action but was unable to feature in the contest.
Murray did take to the All England Club court later in the week, playing alongside brother Jamie in the men’s doubles tournament.
However, his stint at this year’s competition was short and not-so-sweet, with Australian pair John Peers and Rinky Hijikata dumping them out in the opening round.
Despite the early departure from SW19, Murray’s pain appears to have remained, with the two-time Wimbledon winner sharing his discomfort on social media.
The good news – if you can even call it that – about Murray’s early exit, is that it gives him ample time to rest and recover ahead of the Olympic Games next month.
But it does bring an end to his illustrious Wimbledon career – a farewell which Murray admitted got the better of him emotionally.
Speaking after what proved to be his last match at Wimbledon, Murray commented: “Because I knew definitively that that was going to be the last time I’m playing here, the buildup to the match and everything, the last week and everything, has been really emotional for me.
“Every time I was on my own, I found myself getting a bit emotional and thinking about it and everything.
“I’m glad that it’s done now. Obviously try and enjoy the mixed doubles in a couple days’ time. It should be fun.”
There was a scheduled mixed doubles appearance with fellow Brit Emma Raducanu pencilled in after that, but an injury concern for the women’s 2021 US Open champion denied Murray the chance to bid farewell to the All England Club.
Attention will now switch to the Olympics and a return to Roland-Garros, for what could be his last tournament appearance.
Murray revealed earlier in the year that he doesn’t expect to play much after the summer, with some speculating that might mean a goodbye from tennis altogether following the Paris Games.
A winner of two gold medals in the past, Murray would’ve been eyeing up a triumphant exit while representing Team GB in the French capital, but following his latest injury worry, even that looks like it could be under threat.
