LONDON: Andy Murray will decide on Monday if he can play singles at his final Wimbledon, admitting he still does not have “100% feeling” in his leg following back surgery.

Two-time champion and former world number one Murray underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his spine last week.

“The operation on the back wasn’t insignificant,” said 37-year-old Murray who will train again on Monday before deciding if he is fit enough to play his scheduled first-round match on Tuesday.

“I don’t have 100% feeling and sensation in my leg yet but it’s getting better every day.” “I want to give it every single chance that I can to get there.

“I’m going to play another set again tomorrow. I’m

doing some physical testing in the morning to see sort of how far off I am. Then I will probably make a decision tomorrow evening.”

Murray explained that the cyst compressed nerves and caused him to lose most of the control in his right leg.

“It’s kind of like if you sleep on your arm funny, you wake up and you’ve got a dead arm,” he said.

Murray is due to face Czech world number 38 Tomas Machac on Tuesday.

If Murray can’t make that date, he still hopes to play doubles with brother Jamie before bringing the curtain down on his Wimbledon career which began 19 years ago.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon women’s champion Marketa Vondrousova expects to be under pressure when she defends her crown at the All England Club, but said she was doing her best to be prepared.

The Wimbledon women’s singles has had seven different champions in the last seven editions of the tournament, and Vondrousova said she expected tough matches from the first round.

“I feel like you just have to prepare for the stress and for the pressure. Now people are watching you more, expect you to play semis or finals in every tournament. I don’t think that’s possible,” the Czech sixth seed told reporters on Sunday.

“You just have to take it match by match... I don’t think you can feel stress-free at all when you are [number six] in the world.

“I think the draw is really open... for sure. I think we can expect many surprises... you never know what’s going to happen there,” she said. “I think we can expect tough matches from the first matches.”

Vondrousova, 25, faces Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round on Tuesday.

DJOKOVIC INSPIRES OSAKA

Naomi Osaka said on Sunday she hopes to mark her daughter’s first birthday by making a winning return to Wimbledon thanks to a helping hand from Novak Djokovic.

The Japanese superstar, a four-time Grand Slam champion and a former world number one, hasn’t played at the All England Club since 2019.

Osaka takes on Diane Parry of France in her opener on Monday, the day before she celebrates daughter Shai’s first birthday.

“She’s one on Tuesday so it will be very exciting day,” said the 26-year-old.

“It’s been a great journey and I’m lucky and blessed to have happy girl with lots of energy. It’s a dream to be here with her now.”

In order to improve her chances at this year’s tournament, Osaka has sounded out seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic.

“I tried to slide on grass. I asked Novak how he did it. I have tried a few times but it has been scary. I think I may have to wait for the grass to get brown a little,” she said.

“But he told me no matter if he falls he keeps getting up and doing it. He said I have to overcome the fear of getting hurt.”

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024