Finally, the Andy Murray farewell tour begins after two weeks of conjecture over whether he would take to Wimbledon's Centre Court one more time.
His recovery from surgery to remove a spinal cyst was not rapid enough for him to take up his place in the singles draw, but sufficient for him to use the option of a wildcard for the doubles with brother Jamie.
Watching them in action this week on the practice courts, it is abundantly clear the back is not quite right, the primary impact being he still does not have full sensation in his right leg.
The injury has curtailed his reach to his forehand side and there have been repeated points where he has been momentarily rooted to the spot when taking a running, reaching forehand, his body no longer able to pivot back into play as it did just last month.
It will be a packed Centre Court and, no doubt, crowded Henman Hill, as fans bid to catch what could be a penultimate glimpse of the two-time singles champion as he and his brother take on John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.
In practice yesterday against former world No1 pairing Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram, the Murrays looked good, although they lacked the fluidity of an established duo. They have previously played together on a big stage — most notably Davis Cup — but never before competitively at the All England Club.
Of the upcoming match — the third on Centre — Murray said: "Getting the opportunity to play with Jamie here will be special and I'll make the most of it. It's easier said than done just to enjoy it when you're out there, because you're competing, concentrating and trying to win the match. Hopefully, we can have a good run."
It's easier said than done just to enjoy it when you're out there competing, but I hope we have a good run
As well as the competitor in him wanting to be successful, this final Wimbledon hurrah is also about having fun, and there have been no shortage of smiles on the practice courts.
The fun factor has partly been in his thinking with the second part to his farewell — the mixed doubles and a partnership with Emma Raducanu.
It began on Tuesday night, when Murray texted her at around 9pm to ask if she wanted to play. She replied with a "yes", admitting it took her no more than 10 seconds to think it over.
She said: "I think some things are a once-in-a lifetime memory that you're going to have for the rest of your life. To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, those things don't come by [often].
"At the end of my life, at the end of my career, when I'm like 70 years old, I know I'm going to have that memory of playing Wimbledon with Andy Murray at a home slam.
"Wimbledon is Andy Murray and Andy Murray is Wimbledon. It was an honour to be asked. I want to obviously do well with him. I'll probably be more nervous for that than the singles."
Both pairings have captured the imagination of tennis fans and seem apt at the home of his greatest career successes, having been denied the original option in the singles.
Roger Federer, who is expected to be on court to watch, also got his farewell in doubles alongside his greatest rival Rafa Nadal at last year's Laver Cup in London.
And Nadal looks likely to make his own goodbyes at the venue he dominated more than any other, Roland Garros.
Murray may still have the desire to win and have unlikely long runs in both doubles formats but, at this stage, the results almost seem immaterial to the farewell.
