Andy Murray suffered a worrying injury blow two weeks before what is expected to be his final Wimbledon appearance, being forced to retire from his second-round Queen's match against Jordan Thompson.
The former world number one, who battled past Australia's Alexei Popyrin in three sets in his first-round battle, was 4-1 down against Thompson before being forced to call it quits.
The 37-year-old's movement was visibly off even before Wednesday's headline match began, and he was broken to 15 in his first service game on an unforced error before Thompson built up a two-game lead.
Murray did manage to get on the board in the third game, but he quickly called the trainer out to assess his back and elected to soldier on, but Thompson was extremely comfortable against his hampered foe.
Back-to-back double faults gave Thompson a double break for a 4-1 lead, after which Murray was forced to retire from the match, in what was likely his last appearance at one of his favourite tournaments.
The three-time major champion has won a record five singles titles at Queen's, and his retirement has naturally sparked fears that he might not be able to participate in this year's Wimbledon Championships.
Tough viewing 😔
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 19, 2024
Andy Murray is forced to retire and waves goodbye to the tournament that has given him so much 🫶#CinchChampionships pic.twitter.com/cwHC5E370R
Thompson admits 'sadness' over Murray retirement
Murray has already admitted that he does not anticipate playing much beyond SW19 or this year's Olympics, and opponent Thompson paid tribute to his stricken opponent after their short-lived battle.
"I learned a lot of things watching him play, so it's an honour to share the court with him, but it's just sad that it ended like that," the Australian said in his post-match interview.
"I thought 'I just need to make him move'. I guess that's the benefit of me being a lot younger than him and watching him play. In any other sport, if someone was hurt I don't think the opponent would let up at all. It's nothing personal, just trying to get the job done."
The draw for Wimbledon - which Murray triumphed in during the 2013 and 2016 seasons - takes place next Friday, before the tournament runs from July 1 to July 14, and a total of 14 wild cards for the championships were confirmed earlier on Wednesday.
There were no other Britons in top-level action on Wednesday, but Jack Draper and Billy Harris take on Carlos Alcaraz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard respectively at Queen's tomorrow, while Harriet Dart faces Barbora Krejcikova in the Birmingham Open last 16.
![Cameron Norrie looks dejected at the Queen's Club Tennis Championships on June 17, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "Cameron Norrie looks dejected at the Queen's Club Tennis Championships on June 17, 2024 [IMAGO]")
