The 2024 Wimbledon Championships have been rocked by some unwanted injury news. Legends of the game Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are both racing against time to be fit for this year’s Championships, and fans across the world are desperately hoping that they will see their heroes step out onto Centre Court this summer.
With both having enjoyed long, illustrious careers, it is highly likely that 2024 will be the last time we see Andy Murray play professionally, after he announced he is planning to retire from tennis after the Olympic Games later this year. Meanwhile for Djokovic, while a retirement from tennis has not yet been alluded to, the rise of young stars such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are telltale signs that a new era in professional tennis has begun, and time may be running out for Djokovic to try and equal Roger Federer’s record of 8 Wimbledon titles.
Let’s take a look at the injuries that are currently putting the pair’s 2024 Wimbledon campaigns in jeopardy. Here at PhysioRoom we are extremely hopeful that both players make a full, speedy recovery and will be able to participate in this year’s championships, but only time will tell whether this is likely to be the case.
The Back Injury Putting Andy Murray’s Wimbledon Swan Song In Doubt
Two-time Wimbledon champion, and tennis legend, Andy Murray may have already played his final ever professional tennis match on the iconic SW19 courts, without even knowing it. The Great Britain star had planned to retire from tennis after the 2024 Paris Olympics, meaning this year’s Wimbledon would be his last, however, a back injury suffered against Australian Jordan Thompson at Queens earlier this week has thrown these plans into turmoil, and have cast major doubt over whether Murray will get his Wimbledon goodbye.
In an interview, Murray stated “In hindsight I wish I hadn’t gone on the court”, after experiencing some discomfort before the match began, and this could end up being a decision which denies him his final ever appearance at Wimbledon. However, all hope is not lost. While the injury is not yet diagnosed, Murray himself explained how he has been dealing with back issues for the past “10 years or so”, and with full recoveries made before, a famous final appearance at Wimbledon is certainly not off the cards yet.
If given the all clear to play at Wimbledon, we may see Andy Murray wearing a back brace, or back support belt to help manage and reduce any pain while he plays. In a sport like tennis where there is lots of movement, stretching, and sudden changes in direction required, wearing a back support could be the difference between Murray getting his perfect ending or not. With tennis matches often lasting over 2 hours, it is crucial that Murray is comfortable when out on the court, and a high-quality back support will provide long lasting, adjustable levels of compression and comfort for maximum freedom of movement. This, along with reduced pain and reduced risk of further injury, will allow Murray to perform to the highest level possible despite the injury, significantly raising his chances of bowing out of Wimbledon on a high.
Lower back pain is an extremely common injury in tennis players, as serving and returning the ball requires players to rotate their hips and upper body which can cause muscle strains and sprains. If you, or anyone you know is suffering from a similar injury, our blog page provides advice and guidance on the best way to deal with injuries, as well as related topics such as: The Top 5 Tennis Injuries. Additionally, for high quality back support belts and other injury supports, visit the PhysioRoom website. We have over 20 years of experience, and provide injury supports & braces that are trusted by the NHS and private physiotherapists, so you can be sure to find a suitable support for whatever pain or discomfort you are experiencing.
Novak Djokovic Meniscus Tear Jeopardising 2024 Wimbledon Participation
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion, or shock absorber, between your shinbone and your thigh bone. When competing against Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round of the French Open earlier this year, Novak Djokovic slipped on the clay and injured his knee, and it was subsequently revealed that in doing so, he had torn his meniscus.
It has been revealed that Djokovic underwent surgery for his meniscus tear earlier this month, and this went successfully. However, the Serbian now faces a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon – a Championship he has won 7 times. With the recovery time for a meniscus tear usually around 6 to 8 weeks without surgery, or around 3 to 4 weeks with, Djokovic will have to decide whether he wants to return to action immediately, or rest up and let his knee make a full recovery in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
If Djokovic decides he is ready to compete at Wimbledon, almost exactly 4 weeks after the injury was sustained, we may see him wearing a knee brace for meniscus tear, or any other kneecap brace when he plays. These knee supports fit tightly around the patella to offer an exceptional level of support, comfort, and protection for the knee to help you move freely, speed up recovery, but most importantly, prevent further damage. The compression around the kneecap will help to reduce pain and swelling after the injury, allowing Djokovic to play to his full ability, despite the recent injury setback.
Meniscus tears are extremely common in sport, so it is likely that you, or someone you know has also experienced what Djokovic is currently going through. For further advice and information surrounding meniscus tears, knee ligament injuries, and knee braces and supports, be sure to check out our blog page, and for high-quality products, visit our website.
Game, Set, and Match for ‘The Big 4’ at Wimbledon?
With the news that both Murray and Djokovic could miss Wimbledon 2024, we could be set for a Wimbledon Championships to feature none of the ‘Big 4’ (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray) for the first time in 26 years! With Roger Federer retiring in 2022, and Rafael Nadal withdrawing from the tournament to focus on the Paris 2024 Olympics, Murray and Djokovic missing the tournament would mean that this is the first Wimbledon since 1998, (one year before Federer’s Wimbledon debut), that none of the Big 4 have competed. This would also mean that the Wimbledon final will not feature any of them for the first time since 2002, when Lleyton Hewitt beat David Nalbandian in straight sets.
Both fans and neutrals alike will be hoping that Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic enjoy speedy recoveries and are able to compete in this year’s championships. Many tennis fans have never experienced a Wimbledon without any of the Big 4, and will be hoping that this is extended for one more year at least.
Here at PhysioRoom, we are hopeful that with the help of proper physical therapy, and a suitable knee or back support, we will be seeing both legends step out onto the famous SW19 court in 2 weeks time. However, we are also firm believers in listening to your body, and putting your health and recovery first. Therefore, if either Murray or Djokovic feel in pain, or feel as though competing will cause them further injury, then we hope that they make the right decision for them – even if that means withdrawing from the tournament. At PhysioRoom our main priority is helping people make full recoveries from injury, so while we hope that both are able to feature at this year’s Wimbledon Championships, our main concern is that both players make a full recovery from the injuries they are currently facing.
As previously mentioned, for information and advice regarding different types of injuries, different physiotherapy and rehabilitation methods, and different injury supports and braces, please visit our blog page where our team provide their expert knowledge and advice. Additionally, for high-quality products for all physiotherapy and injury needs, please visit our website. With injury supports for the full body, you will be sure to find what you need with us.