Murray misery - British No 1 fails last-gasp test

The British No 1, who had been scheduled to meet Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti on Court One this afternoon, accepted medical advice that there was still a chance he might do further harm to his wrist and pulled out with the utmost reluctance.

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He is now expected to rest it fully for at least a week and then, with the soreness gone, prepare for a comeback during the north American hardcourt season that leads up to the U.S. Open.

In the meantime British hopes of making inroads in the singles event will rest largely with 32-year-old Tim Henman, who is struggling for form after his own injury problems this year.

"I have done everything possible to get ready for Wimbledon," said Murray. "I have played practice sets the last few days but still cannot hit a topspin forehand properly. It has been six weeks of really hard work but I am not one hundred per cent ready."

While the Scot, 20, was able in practice to strike his backhand forcefully there remained a fragility on his other wing — a weakness that opponents would have ruthlessly exploited. Part of the problem is that he knows he might have thrown to the wind the caution he has exercised in his preparations in an adrenalinefuelled match situation.

"The wrist is a very important part of tennis and there are a number of players who have made the decision to come back too soon and ended up with long-term injuries," said Murray.

"I do not want to take the risk and make the same mistake. The doctor has advised me not to play and that I probably need about 10 days to be ready.

Unfortunately, I don't think it is going to rain for the next 10 days. I love playing Wimbledon because of the support I get from the British public. That is what I am going to miss the most."

Former champion John McEnroe admitted Murray's withdrawal was a blow to the tournament and said: "It's deflating because there was a sense of anticipation around him. It takes the starch out things but, in the circumstances, he wasn't going to win it.

"He's made some real progress in the last few months. There's Federer and then Nadal and he's one of the handful of guys trying to catch them up.

"It would have been interesting to see him on this surface to find out how he's progressed but he couldn't expect to win it after three months out.

"I'm not sure what the doctors told him but if there's any chance of longterm damage he shouldn't play. He will have 10 more chances to win Wimbledon."

Murray had said on Saturday that he expected to be fit if there was no reaction to his practising over the weekend, but the continuing pain in the wrist was making it difficult to do anything other than slice his forehand. He was due to meet Henman in the third round and, ironically, it means that if the veteran can find any kind of form, he will not have the most difficult passage through to the second week.

Murray's place in the draw was given to lucky loser American Kevin Kim, who was defeated in the final round of last week's qualifying event at Roehampton.