Murray: Stop asking Andy about retirement

JUDY Murray has called out the media for its focus on Andy Murray’s retirement plans.

Reports in recent weeks have focused on how much longer the Scottish tennis star will keep playing at the top level.

On Wednesday, Murray confirmed he is set to retire this summer after losing to Ugo Humbert in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Murray won his firstround match against Denis Shapovalov – the 500th hardcourt win of his career.

The Scots champ told press that it was “great to get to 500 before I’m done”, hinting at an upcoming retirement.

After he lost to Humbert, Murray told the media: “I’m likely not going to play past this summer.

“I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest.

“I’m not going to talk more about that between now and whenever the time comes for me to stop. But, yes, I don’t plan on playing much past this summer.”

Sharing a clip of the interview, Judy Murray, his mother and first tennis coach, said the media should “let him enjoy whatever time is left of his career”.

She wrote on social media: “Every single press conference he is asked the same question. When he started on @atptour it was ‘ah but when r u going to win Wimbledon?’ Every single time.

“Let him enjoy whatever time is left of his career. He is 50 in the world, has a metal hip ... and four kids. And nothing to prove to anybody.”

Murray is a three-time Grand Slam champion, double Olympic gold medallist, and former world number one.

Murray is the only tennis player to have won back-to-back singles gold medals, in London and Rio, and he said: “Hopefully I can get the chance to compete at another one.”

Murray has said previously he has an idea of when he would like to bow out, and he told Radio 4’s Today programme: “When the time is right I will probably say something before I play my last match and my last tournament.”