Andy Murray has announced that he will not defend his Surbiton Trophy title this week, after having sustained a back injury in recent months.
It seems the British tennis star will skip the event as he hopes to be fit to compete at Wimbledon, which will take place between July 1 and July 14.
It could also be his final appearance at the All England Club, having dropped several hints earlier this season that he could retire from the ATP Tour. After being beaten by Andre Rublev at Indian Wells in March, Murray had said: ‘I’m planning on finishing in the summer. I don’t know what more I’m supposed to say.’
Despite that, the 37-year-old recently revealing his ambitions to play in the men’s doubles alongside his brother Jamie at Wimbledon next month.
It came after the two-time Wimbledon champion was dumped out of the French Open after suffering a first round defeat by Stan Wawrinka, 6-4 6-4 6-2.
‘Unfortunately I won’t be back to defend my title this year,’ Murray said, speaking on his decision to pull out of the Surbiton Trophy.
‘It’s been a tough decision but one my team and I felt we needed to make.’
Murray had beaten Jurij Rodionov in the final at Surbiton last summer, before going on to win in Nottingham. He would subsequently be knocked out at the round of 64 by Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon in 2023.
Injuries have plaugued the British star on his farewell tour this season, with Murray having ruptured his ankle ligaments earlier in March.
He also appears to be carrying a back injury and opened up on the issue after he and Dan Evans had suffered defeat in the first round of the men’s doubles at the French Open.
‘I have been struggling a little bit with my back the last couple of weeks, so I probably needed a few lighter days anyway,’ he said.
‘Yeah, I’ll get a chance to get home, start preparing on the grass and hopefully get a few good tournaments there.’
Murray, who will target a spot at this summer’s Olympics had spoken out on his plans to retire ahead of the French Open, claiming he was not sure if he would play past this summer.
‘When the time is right, I will stop. I don’t know if I will play past the summer. The results I have been having are not what I would want.
‘But the mentality around whether it’s with my racquets and rehab or whatever, it’s always to try to get better.’
