ANDY HITS IT CROSS COURT

Murray smashes back at reports that he's KO'd from Wimbledon... but his appearance at SW19 still on a knife-edge after back operation

- NEIL MCLEMAN

IT was back in January 2019 that Andy Murray was "retired" by Australian Open organisers - who showed a star-studded video tribute after he lost in the first round.

But the Scot was not ready to go then. And although he is battling against the odds to get fit for a final Wimbledon with his metal hip, he is still not ready to go now.

The three-time Grand Slam champion, 37, wants to go out on his own terms and in his own way this summer. And like much of his career, his farewell from tennis was never going to be straightforward.

Yesterday was proof of that. Following surgery to remove a spinal cyst on Saturday, the Daily Telegraph reported that Murray was definitely ruled out of SW19.

And then tweets apparently confirming the news appeared from the ATP and the LTA.