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Agencies

Andy Murray said he remains on course to play at Wimbledon even though he is still being hampered by an abdominal injury which has left him unable to practise fully.
The 35-year-old Briton, who won the grass-court grand slam tournament in 2013 and 2016, sustained the injury during his Stuttgart Open final loss to Matteo Berrettini on June 12.
The former world No 1 withdrew from last week’s Queen’s Club Championships and is racing to be fit for Wimbledon, which begins on June 27.
“The plan is still to play. The injury is improving. I’ve had it rescanned and it’s progressing in the right way,” Murray told British media on Monday.

“But you can probably work out from the nature of the injury which shots it is that I’ve been struggling with and haven’t been able to practise.
“In the next few days I’ll start to increase that and test it out. Hopefully it’s recovered sufficiently.”
Murray, who is now ranked 51st in the world, looked in good form during the grass court swing, reaching the Surbiton Challenger semi-finals before the final at Stuttgart.
“It’s frustrating but I played nine matches in two weeks, which I haven’t done since 2016,” added Murray, who has endured lengthy injury lay-offs in recent years due to hip surgeries.
“My game was obviously in a good place physically.
“It’s frustrating to be in this position in the build-up to Wimbledon, but the positive for me is I’ve dealt with certainly worse issues in the last few years and handled them OK.”
Meanwhile, Serena Williams skipped her scheduled practice session at Eastbourne at late notice on Monday as the 23-time grand slam champion prepares to make her return to competition after a year away.
Williams trained at a nearby club over the weekend and was expected to have an on-site session at Devonshire Park ahead of playing doubles with Ons Jabeur. Their first match is set for Tuesday against Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova.
The 40-year-old Williams, who has not competed anywhere since she was injured in the first round of Wimbledon last year, was awarded a wild card for singles at the All England Club.
Jabeur said it was “unbelievable” to have been asked by Williams to be part of her journey back to competition at the Wimbledon warm-up.
“I’m a good secret-keeper – yes, I’ve known [since] before the French Open,” said the No 3-ranked Jabeur, who arrived at Eastbourne after winning the title in Berlin on Sunday.
“Many players were jealous because I’m playing with her. Honestly, Serena is Serena. She is a legend and always will be.”
Jabeur said she is hoping to learn “even like 2 per cent from it”.
“Now I’m joking with other doubles players,” she said. “I was like, ‘If you have minus 20 grand slams, don’t even ask me to play doubles with you any more.’”
Jabeur has pulled out of the singles at Eastbourne following her run to the title in Germany and will play only the doubles. Still, she’ll likely be kept busy this week given who she is partnering.
“I cannot wait to see her, I haven’t seen her yet,” Jabeur said of Williams. “Hopefully we will get together and talk a little bit and see, because I’m really pumped. I want to win this doubles and why not win the title here, you know?”
Among those to advance from the first round of the singles on Monday were three qualifiers – Donna Vekic, Kirsten Flipkens and Lesia Tsurenko – and two British wild cards in Jodie Burrage and Harriet Dart.
Wimbledon to ban Russian and Belarus players in the wake of Ukraine invasion
Sorana Cirstea, who lost in the semi-finals of the Birmingham Classic over the weekend, was trailing Anhelina Kalinina 6-0, 2-1 before retiring.
In second-round matches, American player Alison Riske was beaten by Magda Linette of Poland 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, while fifth-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza beat Magdalena Frech 6-1, 7-6.
In the men’s event, sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia began his title defence by beating Cristian Garin 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.
Two Americans – fifth-seeded Reilly Opelka and seventh-seeded Frances Tiafoe – were beaten.


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Wimbledon: Andy Murray in fitness race, Serena Williams misses practice at Eastbourne

Andy Murray said his injury was preventing him practising fully. Photo: dpa

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Andy Murray (right) speaking at the Madrid Open. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Andy Murray was in top form heading into his first match against Novak Djokovic in five years. Photo: AFP

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Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves the ball during a men’s singles match against Laslo Djere at Serbia Tennis Open ATP 250 series. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Tennis

Murray still dogged by abdominal injury and had withdrawn from pre-Wimbledon event at Queen’s Club
Williams skips scheduled practice session at late notice as she prepares to make competitive comeback after year out


Murray still battling abdominal injury that caused withdrawal from Queen’s, while Williams skips practice at late notice as she prepares for competitive return.


Serena Williams