Murray ponders surgery option

Open campaign in doubt

Andy Murray’s career is at a crossroads, with one prominent pundit even suggesting he should consider retirement following an emotional injury admission.

The former world No.1 has withdrawn from the Brisbane International due to a lingering hip injury, casting grave doubt over his Australian Open campaign.

The announcement was followed by a candid Instagram post in which Murray opened up on his ongoing struggles and signalled the possibility of career-threatening surgery.

“I have done everything asked of me from a rehab perspective and worked extremely hard to try to get back on the court competing,” he wrote.

“Having played practice sets here in Brisbane with some top players, unfortunately this hasn’t worked yet to get me to the level I would like, so I have to reassess my options.

“Obviously continuing rehab is one option and giving my hip more time to recover. Surgery is also an option but the chances of a successful outcome are not as high as I would like.”

The post, featuring a picture of Murray as a boy, attracted many messages of support and sympathy among the tennis community.

And it also led several UK pundits to question whether the 30-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion would ever be back to his best.

Martin Samuel, writing for the wrote while it was “too early for the obituary” there was a “beginning of the end feel” to Murray’s announcement.

“Murray must fear the best is behind him now, professionally at least,” Samuel wrote.

“Murray flogged himself relentlessly to match Novak Djokovic, to win three Grand Slams, two Olympic gold medals, to rise to the pinnacle of his sport.

“Even if he returns, it is unlikely he will be of an age, or have the physical capability, to do that again.”

Murray has not played on the ATP tour since losing to American Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year.

Murray is expected to fly to Melbourne in the coming days as he attempts to keep his Australian Open hopes alive.

“In the short term I’m going to be staying in Australia for the next couple of days to see if my hip settles down a bit and will decide by the weekend whether to stay out here or fly home to assess what I do next,” he wrote.