The 2024 Wimbledon draw has been made (Picture: Getty)
Andy Murray will face Tomas Machac in the first round of Wimbledon if he is fit enough to make an emotional farewell appearance at the All England Club.
The British sporting hero, who plans to retire later this year, was forced to have a procedure on a back issue last week, throwing his participation at Wimbledon into doubt.
Three-time major champion Murray returned to training this week and says he will make a decision on playing at Wimbledon ‘as late as possible’.
If Murray pulls out of his singles first-round match against Czech Republic’s Machac, he could still delight fans with one last Wimbledon appearance alongside his brother Jamie in doubles.
The Scots have been handed a wildcard to play together and Murray believes that represents his best chance of one last Wimbledon appearance.
‘I’m going to wait until the last minute to see if I’m going to be able to play and I’ve earned that right to do that,’ said Murray, who ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s Wimbledon singles champion in 2013 and won again in 2016.
‘This is not clear-cut where I am 100% going to be ready to play or there is a 0% chance that I can play. That is the situation. I would say it’s probably more likely that I’m not able to play singles right now.’
The two-time Olympic champion added: ‘Maybe it’s my ego getting in the way but I feel that I deserve the opportunity to give it until the very last moment to make that decision.
‘It’s complicated, and it’s made more complicated because I want to play at Wimbledon one more time. I want to have that opportunity to play the tournament.’
Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz opens Centre Court on Monday against Marc Jahal, while world number one Jannik Sinner takes on Yannick Hanfmann.
Seven-time winner Novak Djokovic, who remains an injury doubt for Wimbledon, begins his tournament against Vit Kopriva, while British number one Cameron Norrie will face Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek, who has five Grand Slam titles but never won Wimbledon, faces former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin first up.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who will look to revive her stagnating career on home turf, was drawn against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year.
Raducanu, 21, stormed to the US Open title as a qualifier in 2021 but has not reached the third-round of a Grand Slam since her remarkable run at Flushing Meadows.
British number one Katie Boulter takes on Tatjana Maria and could meet her compatriot Harriet Dart in the second round, if Dart overcomes Bai Zhuoxuan.
More to follow…