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End of an era as 'disappointed' Murray withdraws from Wimbledon singles

Two-time champion Andy Murray called time on his Wimbledon singles career on Tuesday after the "extremely disappointed" former world number one lost his battle to recover from back surgery.

However, the 37-year-old, who plans to retire after the Paris Olympics, will still experience an emotional farewell at the All England Club when he plays doubles with brother Jamie later in the tournament.

Murray underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his back last month, a procedure he described as "not insignificant".

The operation left him without full feeling in his right leg and placed in peril his final appearance at the tournament.

Murray said he was not ready to face Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in his scheduled first-round clash on Centre Court on Tuesday.

"I decided this morning. I slept on it, I told my team and my family that I didn't think I was going to play just based on how I felt yesterday," said Murray after a training session alongside his brother.

He added: "I'm disappointed. I wanted to play in the tournament. I wanted to have a chance to go out there and walk out on my own on the Centre Court again and give it another go.

"But I also was only going to do that if I felt like I could be competitive and I didn't feel like that today."

The Murrays are scheduled to face Australian pair Rinky Hijikata and John Peers in the doubles on Thursday.

"Getting the opportunity to play with Jamie here will be special," said Murray.

"We've never done that before and I'll make sure I make the most of it."

Murray's career-long rival Novak Djokovic described the British star's withdrawal as a "great blow to the tournament".

"Great respect to him for what he has done in this tournament and this sport. I just hope he will be able to finish his career on his terms," said the seven-time Wimbledon champion after reaching the second round on Tuesday.

Murray famously ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's champion at Wimbledon when he triumphed in 2013, defeating Djokovic in the final.

He added a second title in 2016, taking his career majors total to three after breaking his duck at the 2012 US Open.

- 'Great guy' -

Murray has not progressed past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon since his 2016 triumph while the physical stress of 20 years on the tour has taken its toll.

He missed the 2018 tournament with injury and 12 months later sat out the singles after undergoing hip surgery.

That year, he played men's doubles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert and mixed doubles with Serena Williams.

Murray has competed with a metal hip since 2019 while this season he damaged ankle ligaments in Miami when he went down to defeat to Machac.

The Scot made his Wimbledon debut in 2005, reaching the third round, where he took a two-set lead before losing to 2002 runner-up David Nalbandian.

Fellow three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka hailed Murray as "an amazing champion".

"He pushed everybody. He won everything in the sport that you can win. He's been No. 1. He's been an example for many players," said the 39-year-old Swiss, who has faced the Briton 23 times since their first clash in 2005.

Murray fans had been desperate to see their hero make his Wimbledon farewell.

"He feels like one of our own," said 40-year-old Lorna Kennedy, who had travelled down to London from Dundee in Scotland.

"He's done so well and he's just been so good for the sport."

Murray was replaced in the singles draw by Belgium's David Goffin, a lucky loser from qualifying.
Source: AFP