Crocked Andy to miss Wimbledon

ANDY MURRAY last night pulled out of Wimbledon – because he knew he could not win the title. The two-time champion (left), who limped out of the tournament last year, withdrew on the eve of his home Grand Slam after playing only three matches

ON Wimbledon’s first day, Andy Murray will hit the hardcourts to prepare for the US Open after vowing he will return to play in his home Grand Slam.

The double Olympic champ has now missed the last five Major tournaments – and also pulled out in New York last year after the draw in his first failed comeback.

But Murray, who had been set to play world No.48 Benoit Paire (right) tomorrow, said he had “no regrets” about making another last-minute decision for his long-term future.

He said: “It has been tough, but I am at ease with the decision. I am not secondguessing it and thinking, ‘Should I have played, should I have gone out there and see how it felt?’

“I feel comfortable with the decision as it is the right one for me at this stage, long term.

“If I thought I would not play Wimbledon again, it would be a different decision to make and I would be out there, just playing to enjoy it and potentially play my last Wimbledon.

“But I want to play a few more years and be back competing at the top of the game and I need to keep that in mind when I am making decisions right now. I believe I will be back at Wimbledon.”

In a statement, Murray said he had withdrawn with a “heavy heart” but he later insisted he had been right to try another aborted comeback – his fifth since limping out of Wimbledon last year. The Scot, 31, played three matches on grass at Queen’s Club and Eastbourne. “At some stage I needed to get back on the match court to compete to see how my body felt,” he said.

Murray, who consulted with Dr Bryan English as he made his decision, pulled out of Wimbledon the day before in 2007 with a wrist injury.

He also had back surgery in 2013 and will change his training style to stay in the game.

Murray added: “I will make changes to my schedule to try and look after my body better.

“I’ll be working hard but not killing my body in training blocks either. Providing I am smart with those things, I believe I’ll be able to compete.”

Murray, scheduled to play in Washington, starting on July 30, said: “It’s disappointing not to play Wimbledon, but I don’t have any regrets.”