Doubts over Murray making Wimbledon

Andy Murray is by no means certain to be fit for Wimbledon, according to a leading specialist in wrist injuries.

The British number one is undergoing treatment on the hand he damaged mid-stroke during the recent Hamburg Masters, a problem that has already forced him to pull out of the French Open.

"It was an acute injury so he would have done one of two things," said Nick Goddard, an arthroscopy specialist at both the Royal Free and St John and St Elizabeth hospitals in London. "It was either a ligament in the front of the wrist that he damaged and they can take two-three weeks and sometimes two-three months. One can only be vague."

The 20-year-old Scot has yet to confirm whether he will be back in time for the start of the grasscourt season, with Wimbledon a little over a month away.

Goddard added: "From what I've read, it sounds like he's damaged one of the tendons and, on the balance of probability, he's damaged the 'extensor carpi ulnaris' tendon, which is one of the big tendons on the back of the wrist on the little finger side.

"It is one of those tendons and its surroundings that are prone to be damaged on a mistimed forehand shot, generally with top spin, which Murray likes to apply.

"One has no idea the extent of it. It can just be a minor sprain.

"They had it in plaster pretty quickly, which is a good thing to do. As far as I know, he's had a scan and I'd guess he's had an MRI scan and that will show the extent of the problem."

Goddard believes a stumbling block to Murray being match fit for Wimbledon could prove a lack of warm-up tournaments prior to a grand slam event.

He added: "If it's just a minor sprain, you can be back playing reasonably quickly but I would guess not really hitting hard for a good two to three weeks."