EXCLUSIVE – Greg Rusedski suspects Andy Murray is eyeing up a Wimbledon farewell

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Andy Murray at Wimbledon

Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski believes Andy Murray will want to bid his farewell to tennis at Wimbledon – and it could happen next summer.

Speaking exclusively to Tennis365, the Amazon Prime Sport analyst hailed Murray as one of Britain’s greatest sporting icons of all-time, yet he fears the Scot’s hopes of returning to the top of the game are forlorn after he underwent hip surgery last year.

Murray questioned his own future in an emotional press conference in January 2019, citing hip pain which he was suffering with ‘on a daily basis’ and suggested that year’s Wimbledon could be his final tournament.

Yet surgery allowed him to mount another comeback attempt, with fleeting moments of brilliance in evidence from Murray in a disrupted 2020 that saw him play just seven matches on the main tour.

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While Rusedski believes Murray’s win in the ATP event in Antwerp in October 2019 was one of his greatest achievements given his injury record, he believes the two-time Wimbledon champion will no longer be capable of competing for the game’s biggest prizes as he suspects a final bow at the All England Club would provide the ideal end to a glorious career.

“I hope for Murray that he can have a big Wimbledon Championship and there is a crowd for him there,” stated Rusedski told us. “He’s got problems with the hip still so for me for him to win a major I think it’s too hard for him, but he could still have a good run.

“Even to win a Masters Series is a big ask, semis possibly. Masters Series is back-to-back and he hasn’t had much tennis during Covid. Who knows if Wimbledon could be his last event?

“He’s had an incredible career. Two Wimbledon titles, two Olympics golds, world No.1, he has nothing to prove to anyone. 

“His win in an ATP 500 event in Antwerp last year was an incredible performance and I hope he plays as long as he wants and gets the send-off he deserves.”

This year’s Wimbledon was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the French and US Opens were able to take place delayed and behind closed doors, inspiring Rusedski to believe we could see tournaments take place with crowds next year.

“I think we will get Wimbledon next year,” he added. “With the vaccines and testing they’re talking about that’s a huge positive. We’re still six or seven months away so even if we could get half the crowd back that would be an accomplishment.

“I’m optimistic Wimbledon will happen next year and we just have to get on with the times. Some people have no work at the moment, so we have to adapt to it. If you can play tennis and have to quarantine for a time, go and do it.” 

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Andy Murray Greg Rusedski

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