Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Emotional Murray set to hang up his racket

- TENNIS By ELEANOR CROOKS

(26) F Brennan 9 11-12....................... Ben Hicks (7)

(18) N C Kelly (IRE) 7 11-6 ........... Mr N McParlan (3)

(35) Mrs A C Hamilton 8 11-6 ........ J Hamilton

(70) D McCain 6 11-5 ................... B Hughes

(23) F Brennan 5 10-12 ....................J Nailor (7)

(64) W Coltherd 8 10-7 .........Sam Coltherd (5)

(31) Sam England 7 10-6 (BF) ... J England

(22) M Barnes 7 10-4 ................................ R Day BETTING: 6-4 Choochoobu­galoo, 5-2 Bracka Lily, 6 The Lady Rules, 8 Rose’s In The Rain, 10 Lady Samback, 20 Sunset Marquis, Avondhu Pearl, 25 Saucysioux.

5-4fav Led in start, held up in touch in last pair, smooth headway after 4 out, led going well before 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, ridden and found little flat, headed closing stages, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Copt Hill at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.

25-1 Held up towards rear early, swift progress after 3rd to chase leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden after 3 out, challenged before last, kept on to press leader closing stages of run-in, held close home, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind British Art at Down Royal 2m 1f cond hcp hdl 80-102 in Dec. 25-1 Held up towards rear, no impression before 3 out, plugged on from next, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind The Crazed Moon at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec. 9-4 Chsd ldr, 1l 2nd 1/2way, still 2l 2nd bef 3out, sn no ex & drpd to 4th, wknd flat, 4th of 11, 12l behind Getariver at Moig South 3m ire ptp gd in Nov.

3-1 Tracked leader, led 7 out, mistake 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec beating Sir Mangan by 1 1/2l, 3 ran. 40-1 Held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 4 out, hampered 2 out, stayed on, never on terms, 5th of 16, 24l behind Crucial Role at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (3) sft in Dec. 10-1 With leader, soon dropped in touch, chased winner from 3 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Stellar Notion at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May. 5-2fav Chased leaders, switched left and headway approachin­g 4 out, went 3rd before next, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Rock On Fruity at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec. 40-1 Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway approachin­g 3rd, led before next, soon went clear, reduced lead before 5th, not fluent 7th, headed next, weakened quickly after, 9th of 10, well behind Virginia Chick at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec. ANDY Murray ended an emotional day with a hug from mother Judy as he thanked well wishers for their messages of support after announcing his plans to retire.

The tennis world has been paying tribute to the three-time grand slam winner after he revealed he will hang up his racket after this year’s Wimbledon – or maybe even before.

The 31-year-old Scot also admitted his chronic hip condition means he might not even make it to the scene of his greatest triumphs, and that next week’s Australian Open could be the final tournament of his career.

Top-ranked British players Kyle Edmund and Johanna Konta led the tributes along with Murray’s rivals, and friends, such as Grigor Dimitrov, Juan Martin Del Potro and Nick Kyrgios.

Sharing a photo of himself with Judy Murray, the former world number one wrote on Instagram : “Best way to feel better after a tough day is a big cuddle from your mum.

“Genuinely been very touched by all of the messages and support from everybody today. It means a lot and has made me feel much more positive than when I woke this morning. Thank you so much.”

Murray’s smile was in sharp contrast to a few hours earlier, when he was on the verge of tears as he entered the press room and, asked how his hip was feeling, managed to say ‘not great’ before being overcome by his emotions and having to leave.

He returned after several minutes to deliver his devastatin­g news.

Murray will contest his first-round match against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday but that may prove to be the final match of his illustriou­s career.

“I’m going to play,” he said. “I can still play to a level. Not a level that I’m happy playing at. But it’s not just that. The pain is too much really and I don’t want to continue playing that way.

“During my training block (in Miami last month) I spoke to my team and told them I can’t keep doing this. I needed to have an end point because I was sort of playing with no idea when the pain was going to stop.

“I said to my team, look I think I can get through this until Wimbledon. That’s where I’d like to stop playing. But I’m also not certain I’m able to do that.”

After another pause while Murray sat with his head on the desk, he was asked whether this might be his last tournament.

“Yes I think there’s a chance of that for sure because I’m not sure I’m able to play through the pain for another four or five months,” he said.

Edmund, who replaced Murray as British number one, called the two-time Wimbledon champion his ‘biggest role model’, while Konta said: “I can’t imagine the sport without him to be honest.”

Bulgarian former world number three Dimitrov posted a picture of himself and Murray and wrote: “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.”

 ??  ?? Tearful AndyMurray announces hisretirem­ent from tennis inAustrali­a
Tearful AndyMurray announces hisretirem­ent from tennis inAustrali­a

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