Andy Murray‘s Wimbledon plans are in doubt after the two-time champion ruptured two ankle ligaments at the Miami Open.
The 36-year-old is set for an “extended spell” on the sidelines in what is expected to be his final year of professional tennis.
Murray lost a marathon encounter to Czech player Tomas Machac by a 5-7 7-5 7-6 (5) scoreline on Sunday, and has left the US with injuries to both his Anterior Talo-Fubular ligament (ATFL) and Calcaneofibular ligament (CFL).
“Yesterday towards the end of my match in Miami I suffered a full rupture of my ATFL and near full thickness rupture of my CFL,” Murray wrote on social media on Monday night.
“I will see an ankle specialist when I return home to determine next steps.
“Goes without saying this is a tough one to take and I’ll be out for an extended period.
“But I’ll be back with one hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right.”
Murray picked up the injury when racing to the net and sealing the point which won the 10th game of the final set.
A medical time-out was initially called for the three-time major winner, but he picked himself up and continued, only to lose the decider on a tie-breaker.
Murray had revealed in February – during the Dubai Open – his intention to retire this year, telling reporters: “I don’t plan on playing much past this summer.”
It followed a string of first-round exits in Australia and France, but Murray has managed to improve his form over the past month.
The double-Wimbledon champion has beaten Denis Shapovalov and David Goffin at recent tournaments before he claimed back-to-back wins in Miami for the first time since August.
Murray defeated Matteo Berrettini in round one and claimed a semblance of revenge over Australian Open conqueror Tomas Martin Etcheverry, but lost after three hours and 27 minutes to Machac on Sunday.
More worrying for the Scot will be the prospect of a lengthy lay-off, especially with Wimbledon only three months away as Murray’s swansong is threatened by this potentially-serious ankle injury.
Additional reporting by Press Association
