Andy Murray’s injury: Wimbledon farewell questioned after setback at Queen’s Club

Andy Murray’s participation in one final Wimbledon tournament this summer has been called into question again after his departure from the Queen’s Club was ruined by injury.

The three-time Grand Slam winner retired from his round of 16 match at the Cinch Championships on Wednesday afternoon due to injury when he was 4-1 down in the first set against Jordan Thompson, allowing the Australian to advance to the quarterfinals without a fight.

Murray, who beat Alexei Popyrin in three sets in the first round at Queen’s Stadium on Tuesday, looked unwell throughout the short match in West Kensington and was given an early medical timeout during which he was apparently led to the edge of the grass court while having treatment for his back, right hip and right knee.

He tried to play on but quickly gave up after just five games, receiving warm applause as he waved goodbye to the Queen’s crowd for what was probably the last time.

Murray holds the record for most titles ever won at Queen’s, winning the warm-up event for Wimbledon in the singles event five times and the doubles event once during his illustrious career.

These recent injury problems will also raise serious concerns about his participation in Wimbledon, where he is expected to play for the last time at the championships starting on July 1.

The two-time SW19 winner, who ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a British men’s singles title at Wimbledon in 2013 and won the title in 2016 to add to his success at the 2012 US Open, is expected to retire from professional tennis this summer after 20 years.

On Sunday he was named in the Great Britain national team squad for next month’s Olympic Games after being given a wildcard into the individual event due to his previous gold medal-winning performance at the 2012 London Games.

However, it remained to be seen whether he would even compete in Paris, as the situation in the men’s doubles was uncertain and his playing partner Dan Evans also had to withdraw due to injury on Tuesday in Queen’s after suffering a knee problem when he slipped on the court in his first-round match against Brandon Nakashima.

Murray’s latest injury will only increase doubts about his participation in the Olympics and Wimbledon, with the Paris Games scheduled to begin on July 26.