Murray broken in body & spirit
HEARTBREAK Former world No 1 to retire after failing to recover from long-term hip injury; leads to outpour of support twitterreaction
MELBOURNE: A tearful Andy Murray on Friday announced he would likely retire this year due to severe pain from a hip injury, saying next week’s Australian Open could be the last tournament of a glittering career.
The former world No 1 and three-time Grand Slam winner broke down at a press conference in Melbourne as he said the pain had become almost unbearable.
“I can play with limitations. But having the limitations and the pain is not allowing me to enjoy competing or training,” the emotional Scot said.
Thirty-one-year-old “Sir Andy” said he would like to finish at his home Grand Slam in Wimbledon, but ruefully admitted he might not make it that far.
He will be remembered as the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years and as a player who battled his way to the top in a golden era for the game alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
“Wimbledon is where I would like to stop playing, but I am not certain I am able to do that,” he said.
“I’ve been struggling for a long time. I’m not sure I can play through the pain for another four or five months.
“Pretty much done everything that I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn’t helped loads.”
He pulled out of last year’s Australian Open to have hip surgery and only returned in June at Queen’s Club in London.
He ended the season at Shenzhen in September after only a handful of appearances to concentrate on working his way back to full fitness.
But he was knocked out in the second round on his return at Brisbane last week and called it quits on Thursday after less than an hour of a practice match in Melbourne against Djokovic, with his movement clearly hampered.
“I think there is a chance the Australian Open is my last tournament,” he said.
While he intends to begin his opening-round match against 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut next week, how his body with- U.S. Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013, 2016 stands potentially gruelling fiveset clashes in energy-sapping heat remains to be seen.
“I’m going to play. I can still play to a level, not a level I’m happy playing at,” he said.
One of the so-called Big Four, along with Federer, Djokovic and Nadal, who have dominated the game for years, Murray’s ranking has slumped to 230. Became the first Briton since Greg Rusedski, in 1997, to reach a Grand Slam final when he played the 2008 US Open, losing to Roger Federer in straight sets.
In 2012, became the first Briton to reach the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938. Lost to Federer.
A few weeks later, avenged the loss when he beat Federer to win gold at the London Olympics.
Beat Novak Djokovic in the 2012 US Open final to win his first Grand
He hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final since winning his second Wimbledon title in 2016, but has nevertheless enjoyed a glittering career since turning professional in 2005, with not only three Grand Slam titles, but two Olympic gold medals and 45 ATP crowns.
Notably, i n 2013 Murray became the first British man to Slam title, making him the first Brito to win a Major since Fred Perry won the US Open in 1936. Retained his Olympic title at Rio 2016 to become the only player to have won singles gold medals at two Games.
In November 2016, won the Paris Masters and moved to No 1 in the world - the first Briton to do so. Beat Djokovic to win the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time to secure the year-end No 1 number one.
win Wimbledon for 77 years, ending the nation’s obsession with finding a champion to follow in the footsteps of Fred Perry.
Top Australian coach Darren Cahill, who until recently was mentoring world number one Simona Halep, said Murray was an example of the never-say-die attitude that separated the best from the average. “@andy_murray You are a champion on and off the court. So sorry you cannot retire on your own terms, but remember to look to the future.
Billie Jean King
“You deserve to retire on your own terms, whenever that happens. We love you @andy_murray and we want to see you happy and doing well.” Juan Martin del Potro
“If this is true, I tip my cap to @andy_murray! Absolute legend. Short list of best tacticians in history. Unreal results in a brutal era... Nothing but respect here. I hope he can finish strong and healthy.
Andy Roddick
“My heart breaks listening to @andy_murray during his press conference... Hope he will make it through to Wimbledon and have the farewell he deserves. #greatguy.”
Kim Clijsters
“My thoughts are with @andy_murray and I really hope we continue to see you fighting on court so you can retire on your own terms. Get well soon... Tennis is better with you.”
Kevin Anderson
GRIGOR DIMITROV
“Tennis will come to an end for us all but the friendships will last a lifetime. What you’ve done for the sport will live on forever. I’m hoping for a strong and healthy finish for you, my friend! @andy_murray.”
Grigor Simitrov
BORN: Glasgow, Scotland, May 15, 1987