LONDON — Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will play only doubles at his last appearance at the All England Club following his withdrawal from singles on Tuesday, just over a week after back surgery.

The 37-year-old Murray pulled out of the singles competition hours before he was supposed to play Tomas Machac on Centre Court.

“Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” his management team said in a statement. “As you can imagine, he is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time.”

Murray had surgery on June 22 to remove a cyst from his spinal cord.

Murray has said he wants to retire after the Paris Olympics, which start later this month.

He’s never passed the second round in Grand Slam men’s doubles.

He has dealt with injuries in recent years, including a bad hip that required two procedures.

Murray stopped playing during a second-round match at the grass-court tournament at Queen’s Club in London last month because he was having trouble walking. He later explained that the cyst was compressing a nerve in his back and leaving his right leg numb.

Murray owns three major championships: The U.S. Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. His 2013 title made him the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles in 77 years.

He reached No. 1 in the ATP rankings and is the only player with two consecutive tennis gold medals in Olympic singles. He won at London in 2012 — when the Summer Games matches were at the All England Club — and at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Murray underwent hip operations in 2018 and 2019. While he thought he would need to retire after the second surgery, in which he received a metal hip implant, Murray eventually returned to action.

He has since been hampered by various issues, including tearing ligaments in his left ankle at the Miami Open in March.

Murray lost in the first round of the French Open in May.

He had been practicing in recent days at the All England Club and undergoing medical tests to see whether he would be able to compete at what was expected to be his farewell to Wimbledon.

Andy Murray, the former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion, has announced that he will be withdrawing from the singles competition at Wimbledon this year. The British tennis star, who has been struggling with a hip injury for the past few years, has decided to focus on the doubles event instead.

Murray, who underwent hip surgery earlier this year, made a successful return to competitive tennis at the Queen’s Club Championships last month. However, he has decided to take a cautious approach and not push himself too hard by playing singles matches at Wimbledon.

In a statement released by his team, Murray said, “I’m not quite ready to return to singles competition at Wimbledon this year. I have made significant progress in my recovery, but after consulting with my team and doctors, we have decided that it is best for me to focus on the doubles event instead.”

Murray will be teaming up with French player Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the men’s doubles event at Wimbledon. The pair have already had success together, winning the title at the Queen’s Club Championships earlier this year.

While Murray’s decision to withdraw from the singles competition may come as a disappointment to his fans, it is important for him to prioritize his health and well-being. By focusing on the doubles event, Murray will be able to continue his comeback in a less physically demanding format.

Murray’s presence in the doubles event at Wimbledon will undoubtedly add excitement and intrigue to the tournament. Fans will be eager to see how he performs alongside Herbert and whether they can make a deep run in the competition.

Overall, Murray’s decision to withdraw from the singles competition at Wimbledon and compete in the doubles event is a smart move that will allow him to continue his recovery while still being able to showcase his talent on the court. Fans will be cheering him on as he embarks on this new chapter in his tennis career.