MURRAY BLASTS LTA FOR WASTING LEGACY

ANDY MURRAY claims it’s “madness” British tennis has not exploited his success to inspire the next generation.

The three-time Grand Slam champion could have played his last match after losing in the first round of the Australian Open.

But the Scot, who ended a 77-year wait for a British male to win Wimbledon, won two Olympic golds and led Great Britain to Davis Cup glory, believes a huge chance has been missed by the Lawn Tennis Association to promote the sport.

“Does it annoy me? Yeah,” he said.

“Maybe it’s something I should have given more thought to while I was playing but I never felt that was my job.

“I don’t understand how in the last eight to 10 years participation is dropping.

“You need to get kids playing, you need to have the facilities that allow them to do that.

“I am not sure Britain has really capitalised on the last seven or eight years of success that we’ve had.”

Knife

Murray, meanwhile, has revealed he will “probably” undergo a second hip operation.

The former world No.1 will decide within the next week whether to rest until Wimbledon or have more surgery.

Going under the knife will make it unlikely he will make his final farewell at Wimbledon this summer, though it is not impossible.

Murray plans to fly home today to see wife Kim and his family after a five-set loss to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

He said: “After Monday night, the more likely option probably is to have the operation because if I had got smoked, I would have been like, ‘S**t, I don’t want that to be the last match that I play’.

“But because of the way the match went and how I finished the match, I literally couldn’t have done anymore.

“That was my maximum. My hip was completely gone at the end of the match.

“It was an amazing atmosphere, so that would be a nice way to finish.

I would be able to deal with that.”