Murray flies home after pulling out of Australian Open
Andy Murray’s Australian adventure is over, almost as soon as it had begun.
Just five days after landing here, he finally acknowledged the reality of his situation, telling Tennis Australia that he will not be able to play in the year’s first grand slam.
Murray was expected to land back on English soil today, after a chaotic retreat that chimed with the confusion of the last few weeks. To the surprise of everyone – from his hosts at the Brisbane International to his own management company in London – he rose early yesterday and booked a car to the airport, at least 24 hours before he had been expected to travel.
The whole escapade was based on fantasy. Murray convinced himself that he would find a way to play matches again, simply because he wanted his old life back so badly. Unfortunately, you cannot will your way to fitness. His extreme stubbornness has helped to make him the timeless champion that he is. But in the ongoing saga of his degenerative right hip, it has also proved to be his undoing.
This ill-fated mission began on Dec 27 with a flight to Abu Dhabi for a 6-2 exhibition defeat at the hands of world No20 Roberto Bautista Agut. It continued with a couple of practice sessions in Brisbane and that was your lot: 24,000 miles of air travel for not very much play.
At least Murray is unlikely to have set himself back quite as far as he did with his more vigorous attempt to get ready for the US Open in August. In hindsight, though, he will probably regret the six months he has spent standing still. When he discussed his hip with a variety of specialists last summer, most warned him that an arthroscopy – otherwise known as keyhole surgery – would have unpredictable results. Yet the alternative – a programme of stretches, strengthening exercises and guided injections – always seemed hopelessly underpowered for a condition of this severity.
There is no longer any way around it. Murray will have to gamble on an operation if he wants to resuscitate his career.