Andy Murray unsure of Wimbledon readiness after back injury at Queen’s 
Sign up to our free sports newsletter for the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing
Sign up for our free sports mail for all the latest news
Andy Murray will play Tomas Machac in the first round of Wimbledon should the two-time champion be fit enough to take part in what is expected to be his final tournament at SW19. Murray took his place in the singles draw despite admitting he may not be ready to compete after undergoing surgery on his spine. There may be updates on his condition this afternoon on the tournament’s media day.
Emma Raducanu will play 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round, with the former US Open champion returning to SW19 after missing last year due to injury. Top seed Katie Boulter will open against Tatjana Maria and could play Harriet Dart in round two. Similarly, British No. 1 Jack Draper will open against qualifier Elias Ymer and would face compatriot Cameron Norrie in the second round if both men win their opening matches.
The build-up to Wimbledon continues as women’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek and men’s No. 1 Jannik Sinner discuss their chances, while Marketa Vondrousova and Carlos Alcaraz are the defending singles champions. Novak Djokovic is seeded second as the 37-year-old attempts to win Wimbledon for the eighth time after a five-set defeat to Alcaraz in a thrilling men’s final last year.
Follow the final build-up to Wimbledon in today’s live blog
Wimbledon 2024 news and latest build-up
Show latest update
1719678874
Emma Raducanu praises Britain’s success ahead of Wimbledon return
Emma Raducanu ahead of the return to Wimbledon: “I’m very happy to be here again. I think I missed this tournament a lot. This year, when I came back and practiced, it reminded me a lot more, I would say.
“I’m just very grateful that I have the opportunity and the wildcard to compete here. I obviously have great memories of 2021. Yes, it’s a great place to be.”
She also said there is momentum for the British players in the draw and they continue to push each other after Jack Draper and Katie Boulter won titles before Wimbledon.
“I think Jack and Katie have done extremely well, especially because they’ve both been placed here. They’ve both won titles on grass. I think it’s great for British tennis,” Raducanu said.
“I think it’s also great for the other players who want to get into the next round or stay, and who also want to do the same things. I think we all push each other really well.
“In Eastbourne we had three women in the last eight, which I think is quite spectacular for a 500-level tournament. I think it’s great that everyone pushes each other. It’s healthy competition. That’s how it should be.”
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 5:34 PM
1719677157
Murray stopped by McEnroe and Kyrgios after the session
After leaving the practice courts, Andy Murray was stopped by John McEnroe and Nick Kyrgios as they were recording their podcast. Before that, Murray was able to laugh and joke with his team as they wrapped up their session. You get the feeling they are going to miss these moments.
(Jamie Braidwood)
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 5:05 PM
1719675357
Raducanu on Murray’s chances of making it to Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu previously gave a good response about Andy Murray, describing him as her ‘hero’ as he aims to recover in time for Wimbledon.
“I think for a tournament like Wimbledon you push your body and your recovery to the limit. You accept the consequences that come after or during, whatever you have to do. I think you push yourself to the limit and push the people around you to be at their best as well.
“I’m very happy to see him here because when I think of Wimbledon, I think of Andy. When I was growing up, that was the generation, the hero that I looked up to. I think it just feels good and I really hope that, yes, Tuesday or whenever he plays, he will be on the match field.”
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 4:35 PM
1719673686
Murray is not giving up on his chances at Wimbledon
Murray’s movement was understandably quite tough as he returned to the practice courts, but the 37-year-old is clearly determined to give himself every chance of appearing at Wimbledon this week. After this, he has two days to decide whether he is ready for singles action against Tomas Machac on Tuesday.
He will speak tomorrow.
(Jamie Braidwood)
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 4:08 PM
1719671791
Andy Murray arrives on the Wimbledon practice courts
On a hugely positive note, Andy Murray is now groundstrokes and serves on the practice courts at SW19. He has three days to prepare his body for his first-round singles match after undergoing back surgery last week, and there are signs of hope as he loosens up a bit at Wimbledon this afternoon.
Andy Murray plays a forehand on the practice courts of Wimbledon on Saturday (Getty Images)
Lawrence OstlereJune 29, 2024 3:36 PM
1719670557
Alexander Zverev confident of chances for ‘most open Wimbledon in 20 years’
Alexander Zverev believes he can win Wimbledon and says the tournament is the most open in 20 years. The German fourth seed has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the final of the French Open this season, but his best result at Wimbledon is only the fourth round.
“It’s the first time I really feel like I’m here to be a competitor, to maybe win the title,” he said. “I didn’t feel that way the previous years when I came here. I didn’t feel like I was capable. I didn’t believe I was capable.
“I also think this is the most open Wimbledon Championship that we’ve had maybe in 20 years in terms of favorites, in terms of potential winners. I think there are several guys who have a very decent chance of going far and a very decent chance of winning the tournament.
I don’t think it’s been like this for twenty years before Roger started playing, right? After Roger came Rafa, Novak and Andy. It was always a very limited number of guys who could actually compete and win the tournaments.
“I really feel like this year is different. I really feel like I can say I’m one of those guys that’s going to do everything they can.
“Is it a tournament where maybe I need a little more luck and maybe a few things to come my way, a few things to happen? Yes absolutely. More than perhaps at other Grand Slams.
“If all those things all fall into place, if all those things maybe go my way at some point, do I believe I can win? Then I can do that.”
(Getty Images)
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 3:15 PM
1719667582
Aryna Sabalenka raises injury concerns ahead of Wimbledon
Third seed Aryna Sabalenka says she is “not 100 percent fit” for Wimbledon. Sabalenka had to withdraw from her match in Berlin last week and is struggling with a shoulder injury.
Sabalenka said there is a “chance” she will not be able to play her opening match on Monday.
“I’m not 100 percent fit right now,” she said. My team is doing everything we can to ensure that I can play my first match here.
“It’s a really specific injury, and it’s really rare. I’m probably only the second or third tennis player to injure that muscle.
“Yes, that is a very frustrating one. The most annoying thing is that I can do everything. I can practice, I can hit my groundstrokes. I’m having trouble serving. That’s really annoying. You don’t feel like you’re injured.
“If you give me some weights, I’m going to lift some weights. But if you tell me to serve, I’m going to go through the pain. We did an MRI, we did everything. We did a lot of rehabilitation, a lot of treatments and everything.”
(Getty Images)
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 2:26 PM
1719666045
Dan Evans grateful for another chance at Wimbledon
Dan Evans admits he has been thinking about a future after tennis for some time, but is grateful to have another chance at Wimbledon.
The 34-year-old feared the worst after injuring his knee in a fall at Queen’s Club last week, but tests showed it was only a sprain and he is confident of playing 24th-seeded Alejandro Tabilo in the first round on Tuesday.
“The first few days were quite stressful because I was getting different opinions,” Evans said.
“I thought the first opinion didn’t stand a chance and then I asked a knee specialist for a second opinion. It was quite positive and now I’m here.
“It’s pretty positive to have the opportunity to come back here and play. I don’t think you can take that for granted.”
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 2:00 PM
1719662445
Novak Djokovic gives injury update ahead of Wimbledon return
Novak Djokovic declared himself pain-free after beating Daniil Medvedev in a practice match ahead of Wimbledon.
The former world number one was expected to miss the tournament he has won seven times after undergoing knee surgery less than three weeks ago, but it now seems almost certain he will play.
His movement wasn’t quite perfect in a 6-3 6-4 win over Medvedev at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic in Hurlingham, with Djokovic, wearing braces on his right knee, showing a reluctance to push off that leg when standing wide, but he served well and struck the ball sharply.
When asked about his fitness afterwards, the 37-year-old initially let out a deep sigh before saying: “I can tell you I had a really good time today.
“I can tell you that pain-free tennis is the best tennis. I had no pain and I’m very happy with it. It was a great test, of course against one of the best players in the world.”
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 1:00 PM
1719660600
Jack Draper and Katie Boulter could be set for all-British showdowns
British No. 1 Jack Draper will open his Wimbledon campaign against qualifier Elias Ymer, and will face compatriot Cameron Norrie in the second round if the former Wimbledon semi-finalist defeats Facundo Diaz Acastoa.
It’s a similar story for Katie Boulter, who is also seeded at Wimbledon for the first time. She opens against Tatjana Maria and would play compatriot Harriet Dart in the second round if Dart beats qualifier Zhuoxuan Bai.
Jamie BraidwoodJune 29, 2024 12:30
