Andy Murray can return for Wimbledon 2021 says mum Judy Murray

Andy Murray played doubles at Wimbledon last year and had hoped to played singles this year before the decision was taken to cancel the tournament. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

The two-time champion is working his way back to fitness and his mother claims there is no reason to doubt he could make a few more appearances at the Championships, “provided he stays fit and healthy”.

Murray won the men’s singles title in 2013 and 2016, the first British player to do so since Fred Perry in 1936, and, after a long injury lay-off which saw him sit out the singles in 2018 and 2019, it was hoped he would make his long-awaited return this summer.

But following the postponement of many high-profile events, including Euro 2020 and the Olympics in Tokyo this summer, Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since the Second World War.

In a statement announcing the decision to mothball the grand slam tournament, which was scheduled to take place from 29 June to 12 July, the All England Club said they had weighed up the public health concerns associated with the global coronavirus outbreak, adding: “With the likelihood that the Government’s measures will continue for many months, it is our view that we must act responsibly to protect the large numbers of people required to prepare The Championships from being at risk – from the training of ball boys and girls to thousands of officials, line judges, stewards, players, suppliers, media and contractors who convene on the AELTC Grounds – and equally to consider that the people, supplies and services legally required to stage The Championships would not be available at any point this summer, thus ruling out postponement.

“The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.”

While Murray said she was “disappointed”, she also said it was “inevitable”.

But, speaking to BBC Scotland, she said she expected both her sons, Andy and Jamie, to participate in next year’s Wimbledon, the only slam to be played on grass.

“Yeah, I am sure [Andy] will [play again at Wimbledon],” she said. “It is three months until Wimbledon would have been on and then it will be another 12 months and Andy is still only 33 [he turns 33 next month] and look at [Roger] Federer! He is still going strong at 38, and there’s Serena [Williams, who is also 38], so there is no reason, so long as he stays fit and healthy, why he can’t play at Wimbledon again. It’s the same for Jamie as well.

“One of the things that Jamie said recently, when he was asked what his goals are or what he still wants to achieve before the end of his career, he said that he wanted to be able to play a Wimbledon with his brother so let’s hope that can happen one day.”

But the ATP Tour shutdown, which has now been extended to 13 July, has hampered the former World No 1’s return.

“He [Andy] was hoping to come back and test himself out in competition again in Miami, which would have been about now,” said his mum. “So, it is just a waiting game. He has been injured for quite some time, a number of years, and was looking forward to getting back into it. But, he is used to being patient and he is learning a lot of new skills at home!

“He is still rehabbing and trying to keep himself fit and Jamie is doing the same kind of thing but what they can’t do is hit balls or train [with their hitting partners or coaches] so it is going to take a bit of time once the Tour gets itself back on its feet again for players to get back out there and not just build their tennis fitness back up but also the mental stimulation that you can only get from matches.”