Andy Murray Wimbledon legacy assured even if injuries deny him a farewell

Even the Scot’s participation in what was likely to be his final Wimbledon has developed into a ‘will he, won’t he’ saga amid conflicting reports about his chances of returning from back surgery in time.

All England Club chiefs are still on stand-by to honour the two-time champion, who is expected to confirm his retirement at some time this summer.

It remains to be seen if that decision has been hastened by the back injury he suffered at Queen’s Club prior to his second-round match against Jordan Thompson.

Ever the competitor, despite having lost “strength and coordination” in his right leg, the 37-year-old attempted to play the match, eventually being forced to call it a day after five painful games.

“In hindsight I wish I hadn’t gone on there because it was pretty awkward for everyone,” he admitted afterwards in typically dry style.

But this, remember, is a man who has been competing at the top of elite sport for the past few years with a metal hip, having been struck down in his prime – and as world number one – with a debilitating condition.

The real pity is injuries have likely robbed Murray, and British tennis, the chance of a proper send-off.

We will instead have to bask in the memory of that glorious afternoon of Sunday, July 7 2013, when Murray overcame Novak Djokovic to become Britain’s first Wimbledon champion in 76 years, and the win over Milos Raonic three years later for title number two.

Murray’s Wimbledon record of 61 wins and 13 defeats put him ninth in the all-time list, between Rafael Nadal and Jimmy Connors.

But the statistics could never tell the whole dramatic story, stretching back to his first Wimbledon in 2005 when the teenage wild card went two sets up against former finalist David Nalbandian only for cramp to set in and an eventual defeat in five.

Three years later he would come back from two sets down to beat Richard Gasquet in the kind of match that would go on to encapsulate his career.

It was on Centre Court 12 months later, under the roof for the first time, that Murray squeezed past Stan Wawrinka in five in the first of many late-night epics.

Then there were the tears of 2012 after reaching his first final, and taking the first set off Roger Federer, only to go down 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 to the Swiss master.

So Murray’s Wimbledon legacy is assured. What remains unclear is whether he can add one last chapter.