PAIN, SET ‘N MATCH
Fears over Murray future after KO
CROCKED Andy Murray will hold crisis talks with his coaching team about his immediate future after crashing out of Wimbledon.
The deposed champion is refusing to rule out an enforced break after the hip problem which has hampered him throughout the tournament flared up during yesterday’s loss to Sam Querrey.
His shock 3-6 6-4 6-7 6-1 6-1 quarter-final exit leaves Johanna Konta flying the British flag at SW19.
World No.1 Murray admits his own plans are uncertain after failing to reach the last four for only the second time in nine years.
The US Open, the next Grand Slam, starts on August 28 and the Scot said: “I’ll sit down with my team and come up with a plan for what I have to do next, look a little bit longer term.
“The US Open is six or seven weeks away. I’ll get the best advice I can, and stick with that. If it means taking a few weeks’ rest, then so be it.
“If it means training and doing the right rehab, then I’ll do that. I have no idea exactly what that’s going to be. I’m
not going to go into all the details of exactly what my hip issues are. I’ve been dealing with it for a very long time during my career.
“But things are a bit tougher to manage than when you’re younger.”
Novak Djokovic’s enforced retirement, just hours after Murray’s exit, means the Scot will retain his No.1 spot when the new world rankings are revealed next week.
But he claimed that after a year plagued by injuries and loss of form, he did not deserve top spot, while appearing to rule out his chances in the US Open which starts in just over six weeks.
“I haven’t played well enough this year to deserve to be there for much longer,” he added.
“If it hasn’t happened here, it will happen by the end of the US Open.
“Obviously, I would rather be ranked No.1 than two, three or four so (if I lose it) I’ll go away and try and find a way to get back there.”
Murray is now backing Konta, who faces Venus Williams in the semi-final today, to ensure there is something for tennis fans to cheer about.
He added: “I hope she goes on to win the tournament. She’s certainly got a fantastic chance.”