A cyst in his back threatens to destroy Andy Murray's dream of a dignified finish at Wimbledon. However, as always in his career, the Scot is not giving up.
Training on Monday afternoon is important to Andy Murray. "There's no rain in the forecast, is there?" he asks his coach Jonny O'Mara, looking anxiously at the cloudy London sky. He needs this training session to find out whether his body will allow him to compete at Wimbledon for the last time - his sixteenth time.
The indomitable will that carried Murray to world number one and three Grand Slam titles despite the mostly overpowering competition from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic is still there. The 37-year-old Scot knows that it's no longer about winning, but he wants to at least be competitive once again so that he can say a proper farewell to the fans on Wimbledon's beloved Centre Court.
No more feeling in his right leg
Murray has been struggling with a litany of minor ailments for some time now. The latest setback came at the preparatory tournament at London's Queen's Club, when he had to throw in the towel in the second round. A cyst in his back was pressing on a nerve, causing him to lose feeling in his right leg. The cyst was surgically removed a week ago on Saturday and the race against time began. It is not yet clear whether Murray will win this, but he wants to give himself a chance until the last moment.
"Last year, I didn't plan for this to be my last Wimbledon," says the two-time champion, trying to explain his motivation. "This time it's clear that I'll never play here again and I want to experience that 'buzz', that tingling sensation once more." That is why the training sessions are so important, to find out whether he is even capable of doing so. His often damaged back no longer hurts, but his right leg is not yet fully resilient again.
It is no longer a question of winning the first round against the up-and-coming Czech Tomas Machac (ATP 39) at all costs. Murray primarily wants to at least be able to keep up. In training, Murray hits the ball well as long as he doesn't have to run too much. He wins one set against his compatriot Kyle Edmund. "I'm getting better day by day," says the Scottish showpiece fighter hopefully. Should it not be enough for the singles, he at least wants to compete in the doubles with his older brother Jamie.
Ready to take a risk
Murray will decide on Tuesday morning whether he wants to try his hand at the singles. His match is scheduled for the evening as the last on Centre Court. He would not take any great risks, he explained. "In the worst-case scenario, the stitches burst during the cyst operation." This is no bigger than a keyhole. "I'm prepared to take that risk." There could be no serious long-term consequences.
It hurts to watch Murray with his battered body, and yet the fans in London would like nothing better. After all, Murray had redeemed them in 2013 with the first title for a Briton in 77 years. Now his goals are much smaller. But his commitment remains unique, a true Scot will not let his own body get the better of him.
