Raducanu faces difficult Russian opponent in first round while Jannik Sinner starts a major as world No 1 for first time

During her relatively short time as a professional tennis player, Emma Raducanu has never known Wimbledon without chaos. In her debut in 2021, having spent the prior months away from the sport altogether to focus on her A-levels, she reached the fourth round before dramatically retiring due to breathing difficulties. The next year, she injured an ankle early in her opening match on grass at the Nottingham Open and was barely ready in time. Last year, she did not even make it to the starting blocks.

For once, things seem relaxed in Raducanu’s world. She returns for her third Wimbledon after months of consistent training, with a growing number of matches under her belt and also, essentially, wins. She reached the semi-finals in Nottingham and the quarter-finals in Eastbourne, where she clinched her first win over a top-10 player by defeating Jessica Pegula, the world No 5. As she finishes her preparations for SW19, Raducanu says she is the most settled she has been for some time.

While the former champion is keeping fans guessing about his appearance at the tournament, there is justified optimism for Jack Draper, Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu

Considering he has carried the hopes of a nation on his shoulders for almost two decades, it’s perhaps no surprise that Andy Murray’s 37-year-old body has started to buckle and break down. The big one was an operation in 2019 that left him with a metal right hip. But injuries have been a recurring feature of his latter career: the latest is a spinal cyst that required back surgery last weekend. The recovery period for that is typically six to 12 weeks; by Wednesday, Murray – one of the most belligerent competitors any sport has seen – was hitting balls again.

As for playing at Wimbledon, which starts tomorrow, Murray is keeping us guessing. He is slated to face the Czech world No 38 Tomas Machac on Tuesday. “I would say it’s probably more likely that I’m not able to play singles right now,” he said last week. “I’m also doing rehab 24/7 to try to give myself that opportunity to play there again.”

Two-time champion’s ambition, endurance and competitive grit has been something to marvel at over the past two decades

Tennis without Andy Murray is like summer without wine; Wimbledon without Murray is like strawberries without cream. And, at some undesignated point, that emptiness will arrive like one goodbye backhand down the line in fading sunshine on Centre Court.

Since he first played in the championships in 2005, he has returned 14 times, twice triumphant, sometimes disappointed, occasionally disappointing, but never less than as snarlingly committed as an angry summer wasp. And now? We’re not sure. Nor is he.

• Murray practised for an hour but is still struggling
• ‘There are risks and I’m willing to take that to try and play’

Andy Murray says he is willing to take a risk with his body in order to play one more Wimbledon. A week after undergoing back surgery to remove a cyst, he practised on Saturday for about an hour and remains hopeful, if not totally positive, that he will be able to play some part in this year’s Championships.

That he was practising at all offers hope, but the next 48 hours will be crucial. If the 37-year-old is unable to play singles, he may still feel able to play doubles with his brother Jamie Murray for the first time in their careers, the pair having been given a wildcard by organisers. Whatever he decides, he is pushing his body to the limit, as he has done throughout his career.

The 37-year-old’s love of tennis and desire to compete has never dimmed – and fighting to the bitter end is a legacy for which he should be revered

On the eve of the Queen’s Club championship nearly two weeks ago, Andy Murray was announced as part of the Great Britain Olympic team for the fifth time in his career. The Olympics have become, in a way, Murray’s one stronghold at the top of professional tennis. He remains the only player in the Open era to win two singles gold medals, which is more than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer combined.

During his press conference that day, Murray was asked about his success in the Olympics and what his medals have meant to his career. He discussed London 2012 at the All England Club, a narrative-shifting triumph that proved an essential step towards his three grand slam wins, and also his epic repeat at Rio 2016. But Murray spent almost as much time discussing his heartbreaks, from his excruciating cramps in his first round singles loss at Beijing 2008 to his misery in 2021, where he and Joe Salisbury came so close to a men’s doubles medal in Tokyo.

• Murray in line to face world No 38 in men’s singles
• Swiatek handed tough draw against Kenin in round one

Andy Murray has been drawn to start against the world No 38 Czech Tomas Machac in the men’s Wimbledon singles draw if he can prove his fitness in time.

The good news for the Scot is that he was drawn in the opposite half to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and would therefore start on Tuesday rather than Monday, giving him an extra day to try to recover from back surgery on a spinal cyst.

No tickets, no problem – just join the festival from your sofa. Plus: Nick Robinson is interviewing Ed Davey. Here’s what to watch this evening

7.30pm, BBC Four
It has been 17 years since the Beautiful South split, citing “musical similarities”, but Paul Heaton hasn’t kipped on his laurels, most recently releasing N.K-Pop with fellow former Southerner Jacqui Abbott. Expect more achingly poignant masterpieces on the Pyramid stage. Meanwhile, Sugababes will be bringing their incurably infectious pop genius, with the likes of Overload, Push the Button and latest single When the Rain Comes. Bliss. Ali Catterall

• Two-time champion had back surgery last weekend
• Murray feels he has ‘earned right’ to make late decision

Andy Murray believes he deserves a chance to compete at Wimbledon for a final time but he will wait until the very last moment to decide on his participation after returning to training and taking positive steps forward during rehab in the aftermath of his back surgery on Saturday.

“The rate that I’m improving just now, if that was to continue then an extra 72 to 96 hours makes a huge difference,” said Murray on Thursday. “It’s complicated, and it’s made more complicated because I want to play at Wimbledon one more time. I want to have that opportunity to play the tournament and I know that some people might look at that and say, withdrawing from a tournament late at the last minute or something like that isn’t the right thing to do, even though it happens every single week on the tour.