Andy Murray's participation at this year's Wimbledon remains uncertain heading into a possible first-round match against Tomas Machac.
The two-time champion had a procedure to remove a spinal cyst about a week ago having been forced to retire at the Queen's Club Championships second round and could bow out of his home Slam on Tuesday.
Match preview
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This year's Wimbledon was bound to be Murray's last before retirement, but the 2013 and 2016 champion remains undecided about taking part.
The former British No. 1 revealed that a decision will be delayed until Monday evening, failing to allay fears that the 37-year-old will not play in the men's singles event.
Murray was already doubtful after retiring four games into his second-round match against Jordan Thompson at Queen's, but news of his surgery meant he faced a race against time to participate at the Championships.
While the Briton's camp immediately clarified he was not completely ruled out, the three-time Slam winner is evidently not 100% in what could be his final match at a major if he eventually plays against Machac.
Having not advanced past the first round in Australia and Paris, Murray faces exiting after yet another swift elimination if he risks putting his body through the rigours of a best-of-five match.
Despite facing a partisan home crowd, Machac heads into Tuesday's match as the clear favourite, looking to get the better of a far-from-healthy Murray.
The Czechia player is 14 years younger than the man he faces in the first round, and the 23-year-old aims to continue his commendable run at the majors this year.
Machac reached the third round of the first two Grand Slams in 2024, and the budding player aims to win his first match at Wimbledon after last year's first-round disappointment in his debut at the Championships.
However, the young player has not had a promising time in singles events in the lead-up to the third major, exiting in the first round in Halle a fortnight back.
A winless run on grass before Tuesday's match does not bode well for his prospects against superior opponents, but he hopes to have enough against a less than 100% Murray.
Head To Head
Marseille (2024) - Round of 32: Machac 7-5 6-4
Miami (2024) - Round of 32: Machac 5-7 7-5 7-6 [5]
Murray and Machac battle for the first time on grass at Wimbledon, but Tuesday's match will be their third in 2024 alone.
The younger man triumphed in straight sets in the pair's meeting in Marseille in February before claiming their match-up at the ATP 1000 event in a titanic three-set Miami tussle in March.
Murray's 2024 form is inferior to his opponent, with the Briton winning just six of his 18 matches this year — a 33% win rate — as opposed to the world No. 39, who has been the victor in 18 of his 28 matches in 2024 (64%).
Unlike his more experienced winless opponent, Machac has won four matches at this season's majors, further pointing to one outcome.
We say: Machac to win in three sets
There is so much uncertainty surrounding Murray that the best bet is expecting Machac to notch a first-round win over the two-time Wimbledon champion.
The Briton, winless in Slams in 2024, is also nowhere close to his physical best, making his younger opponent the favourite if Tuesday's match goes ahead.
