Andy Murray's illustrious tennis career has taken a severe toll on his body – and his latest set-back has cast doubt over his Wimbledon swansong.
The former world number one's quest for a sixth Queen's Club title was abruptly halted this week when he was forced to retire during his second-round match against Jordan Thompson. Murray was lagging behind Thompson 4-1 when he unexpectedly let the Australian's return fly past him without any attempt to hit it back.
The crowd fell silent as it became clear that Murray was immobilised, prompting a physio to rush onto the court to assist the 37-year-old. This latest setback for Murray is sadly not unexpected for followers of the sport.
The British player has been plagued by a series of health problems throughout his career and now, in his twilight years and with a history of injuries, it's perhaps unsurprising that the former Grand Slam champion had to withdraw from Queen's. Over the course of his distinguished career, Murray has battled with injuries to his back, hip, ankle, knee and shoulder.
As recently as March this year at the Miami Open, Murray crumpled to the ground after injuring his ankle in a gruelling match against Tomas Machac. However, Murray's injury troubles began almost as soon as he embarked on his professional career, as per The Express.
Much of Murray's pain can be attributed to a condition he was born with, known as bipartite patella. Murray has been candid about the persistent struggles with his body throughout his career, starting from his teenage years.
The tennis star wasn't aware he was facing a skeletal anomaly that hindered his kneecap from fusing together until aged 16, a revelation that arrived around the start of his professional journey in 2005. Not long into his sports tenure, he found himself side-lined for three months due to a severe back injury.
In a throwback to earlier setbacks, Murray had to bow out from the Davis Cup in 2006 because of a troubling neck injury encountered during a match against Israel. The same year, at just 19, cramps and another back complaint upset his ambitions at Wimbledon and the French Open, respectively.
Explaining this spate of early issues, Murray reflected on Five Live Sport saying, "I had an X-ray and it showed the bones aren't fully grown. That's why my back gets sore and that's why I get cramp."
The challenges didn't subside as, in 2007, a tendon complication caused by an on-court accident at the German Open in Hamburg forced Murray to withdraw from Wimbledon, keeping him out for the summer season. Despite triumphantly securing his first Queen's Club championship in 2009, Murray was again plagued by injuries, missing six weeks due to wrist problems, with further disruptions following in 2011 involving groin and elbow troubles.
The following year was a landmark one for the Scot, as despite battling back spasms throughout the French Open and losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, he clinched gold at the London 2012 Olympics by defeating the Swiss maestro on Centre Court. However, his Olympic triumph was soon overshadowed by an early retirement from the Rogers Cup due to a knee injury.
Despite this setback, he went on to secure his first major title at the US Open. But at the Rome Masters in 2013, Murray was once again forced to retire due to a hip injury during his second-round match against Marcel Granollers on his 26th birthday.
Despite these challenges, he managed to win Wimbledon for the first time that year but ended the season prematurely to undergo back surgery, hoping to finally address the persistent issue that had been troubling him for years. Murray then enjoyed a few relatively healthy years where he climbed back up the world rankings after slipping due to injuries and a consequent dip in form.
The former US Open champion may have received a knighthood in 2017, but on the court, he struggled with hip and elbow issues which led to him missing his first Grand Slam, the US Open, since 2013. Shortly afterwards, he announced that he would miss the rest of 2017 and even suggested that another significant injury setback could lead to his retirement.
"If my body is in good shape and I'm still able to compete consistently, I'll keep playing," Murray declared. "But I can't look so far in advance with the age I'm at and with the issues I've had. If I was to have a big injury, I probably wouldn't try to come back from that."
Yet, in the subsequent year, Murray revealed on social media that he had undergone hip surgery. Following a lacklustre season, the former Olympic champion decided to cut his season short due to an ankle issue.
A tearful Murray disclosed, just before the 2019 Australian Open, that he might retire from tennis as he had been struggling for a "long time". He further stated that even simple tasks like putting on his shoes were causing him discomfort.
"I've been in a lot of pain for probably 20 months now," an emotional Murray confessed. "I've pretty much done everything I could to get my hip feeling better. It hasn't helped loads."
In January 2019, the former Grand Slam champion underwent another hip resurfacing surgery in a bid to finally resolve his persistent hip problems. However, by December of that year, it was confirmed by Murray's team that a pelvic injury would prevent him from participating in the 2020 Australian Open.
Fast forward to 2021, Murray was sidelined for three months due to a groin issue. The double Wimbledon champion managed to stay largely injury-free for the next two years, but now his health woes have once again come to the fore.
Murray has been plagued by back injuries throughout his illustrious tennis career, casting doubts over his appearances at prestigious tournaments. Post his defeat at the French Open last month, he candidly shared that he's slated for treatment to alleviate back soreness, still clinging to hopes of gracing Wimbledon's courts in July.
Speculation abounds as to whether Murray will hang up his racket post-summer, with potential farewell performances at Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics. The uncertainty looms larger following his withdrawal from the recent Queen's event due to back pain.
Murray, now 37, openly admits his uncertainty regarding the recovery timeline from this recent injury, yet maintains a glimmer of optimism. He reflected on new pains and the familiarity of chronic discomfort: "You know, I have had, like I said, dealing with the back pain today, yesterday, and for the last 10, 11 years of my career, but I have never experienced that before.
"So, you know, I don't know what the procedure will be or what to expect, really. Let's hope it will be OK with some rest and treatment, and I'll still be able to play (at Wimbledon)."
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