Reporters Notebook: Sky Sports’ Dan Khan reflects on his weekend at Wimbledon with Andy Murray on his mind | Tennis News

It has been on my mind quite a lot, the one name on everyone’s lips over the weekend before Wimbledon: Andy Murray.

How is he? Will he be able to get on court one final time? How can he after having an operation on his spine just a week ago? How much will it mean to him to have one final goodbye at Wimbledon?

In a way it feels typical of Murray, the situation he finds himself in.

He had an operation on his spine just over a week ago and now, as he has in previous years with the various challenges posed in front of him, he has one more to overcome.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Jacquie Beltrao brings the latest update on Andy Murray’s recovery and his efforts towards playing at Wimbledon

To do this, once again, Murray will be testing his physical and mental limits to do everything he can to get on court for that moment… that special moment where he can take in the applause of the crowds who have supported him in the lowest as well as highest moments of his career – which have largely taken place at Wimbledon.

I spoke to Sky Sports Tennis analyst Laura Robson and we both ended up just full of admiration of Murray’s competitiveness and how the fact he is even in contention to be on court 10 days after he had surgery is a testament to the player.

I watched him practice on Saturday afternoon – our real first glimpse of how he was faring, and he seemed a frustrated figure. It was clearly a session to test out how his body would react to a few rallies, a few sprints and I left that session thinking it seems unlikely he will be able to play competitive tennis against Tomas Machac in his first round match on Tuesday.

This all made much more sense when we spoke to Murray on Sunday, as he explained how although he is feeling fine with his back, it is actually the impact the operation has had on his legs which has limited him.

He is yet to regain full feeling in his legs since the operation, although it has improved every day. Murray questioned himself whether it will improve enough for him to compete against Machac.

Andy Murray and Jamie Murray played doubles together in the Davis Cup final in 2015, when Great Britain won the tournament
Image:
Andy and Jamie Murray could play doubles together at Wimbledon

The good news is that Murray will have until Thursday to decide whether he can play men’s doubles with his brother Jamie, which would be a special occasion for him and their family – but would that be enough or the right way for Murray to bow out of Wimbledon forever?

I think the question remains in my mind because I spoke to many players over the weekend about Murray and his potential final goodbye at Wimbledon. It really is eye-opening to see them all, not just pay tribute to him, but also the hope they all have that Murray has the moment he deserves to say goodbye.

I asked seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic about his good friend Murray, who he told me was a ‘legend of the game’ but he also explained just how much it would mean for him to make it on court.

Djokovic said: “He definitely deserves a great farewell from his favourite tournament, the tournament he won twice, the place he won the Olympic games – he should finish on his own terms, we all hope he will be physically fit enough to finish on his own terms and wish him all the best.”

Caroline Wozniacki had a similar tribute for Murray, describing how few players in the history of tennis have accomplished what he has with the hope he can finish on his own accord.

Gael Monfils told me ‘he’s the man, he’s Sir Andy Murray!’ and that all the players will be supporting Murray here at Wimbledon to say goodbye.

It may be easy for many of the players to talk nicely about their fellow player but for me, it is the smiles and warmth with which they talk about Murray. I asked many of the players about their own form, Wimbledon, etc – but often their longest answers were in tribute to Murray.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Emma Raducanu relates to Murray’s injury struggles and hopes that he will be fit to play at Wimbledon

So what is the perfect goodbye?

I was initially wondering – does it need to be in front of a full Centre Court? Does it need to be in a singles tie or will the doubles with his brother be enough?

I left Wimbledon on Sunday evening feeling, well – maybe it does not matter after all.

The legacy you leave upon the thousands upon thousands of fans Murray has entertained and brought along his career at Wimbledon as well as the admiration from his peers… perhaps that is enough for someone that has cemented himself as a tennis legend.

Whether Murray is able to get on court in the singles, doubles or not at all – it feels, as I mentioned before, typical Andy Murray that he’ll be fighting every day, minute and second to see if he will be able to do so.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.

  • Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
  • Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Source link

Visited 2 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Barcelona’s 100-point bid ends with 1-0 loss to Alavés

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona’s hopes of reaching the 100-point mark in the Spanish league ended with a 1-0 loss at Alaves on Wednesday. Barcelona clinched its second straight league title on Sunday with a 2-0 win over rival Real Madrid at home and needed three wins in its last three matches to reach 100 points.

Barcelona’s 100-point bid ends in a 1-0 loss at Alaves in the Spanish league

MADRID — Barcelona’s hopes of reaching the 100-point mark in the Spanish league ended with a 1-0 loss at Alaves on Wednesday. Barcelona clinched its second straight league title on Sunday with a 2-0 win over rival Real Madrid at home and needed three wins in its last three matches to reach 100 points. The

Dominant Win Keeps Title Race Alive

Manchester City kept the title race alive and well with a 3–0 win over Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Wednesday to the despair of Arsenal fans around the world. Had the Cityzens not secured the three points, Arsenal would have needed just a win at the weekend against relegated Burnley to hoist their first

Why Erling Haaland Isn’t Starting for Man City vs. Crystal Palace

Manchester City host Crystal Palace on Wednesday desperately needing a win to keep up the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but they’ll have to do it without prolific goalscorer Erling Haaland in the starting lineup. After a relatively slow start of the year, Haaland has caught fire during the run-in, bagging

How Arsenal, Man City’s Remaining Premier League Fixtures Compare

Manchester City might be playing catch-up to Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but they are not going down without a fight. The Citizens finally played their game in hand against Crystal Palace on Wednesday and secured a comfortable 3–0 victory at the Etihad Stadium, cutting the gap to league-leaders Arsenal to just two

2026 Coppa Italia Final official line-ups

ROME, ITALY – MAY 09: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale scores the opening goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 09, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Inter start Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram together in the Coppa Italia Final, while

Spygate: Photo emerges of man outside Middlesbrough’s training ground amid spying allegations against Southampton | Football News

Sky Sports News has obtained a photo that shows a man outside Middlesbrough’s training ground with a camera amid spying allegations against Southampton. The picture has emerged following a complaint from Boro that a member of Southampton’s staff spied on one of their training sessions ahead of Saturday’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg between the

La Liga Preview, Stats, Lineup

Getty Barcelona’s French defender #23 Jules Kounde (L) and Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder #21 Frenkie De Jong clap at the end of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 22 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP via Getty Images) Alavés

Barcelona threaten legal action after Florentino Perez comments on Negreira case & claims that ’14 titles have been stolen’ from Real Madrid

Perez vents fury over ‘stolen’ silverware In a remarkable public outburst Real president Perez has hit out at what he perceives to be systemic corruption within Spanish football. Perez, experiencing “We’ve been left empty-handed, and I’ve been here I don’t know how many seasons and I’ve only won seven European Cups and seven league titles,

Real Madrid lose appeal over fans targeting Guardiola with …

GENEVA (AP) — Real Madrid lost its appeal against UEFA at sports’ highest court after being fined for fans singing a homophobic chant at Pep Guardiola during a Champions League game against Manchester City. The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges decided the chant “was of a severe discriminatory nature … to be considered as

Hansi Flick Sets Out Main Barcelona Target After Revealing New Contract

Hansi Flick revealed a new contract will extend his time as Barcelona manager through June 2028. The back-to-back La Liga winner confirmed the news at a press conference ahead of facing Alavés in a first match since clinching this season’s championship last weekend. There has been no official communication from the club, but ought only

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x