ANDY: MY LAST TIE
Andy Murray predicts he will lose in the first round of the Australian Open but insists he will try to “enjoy” what may be his final ever match.
The Scot yesterday said he was touched by messages of support from fans across the world after announcing he will retire this year.
The double Olympic champion wants to say farewell at Wimbledon but hip pain could force him to stop after the Melbourne action.
Murray, who tomorrow faces world No.23 Roberto Bautista Agut, has reached five finals here but accepts his 13th appearance will not last long.
He said: “It will be tough walking out for what could be my last match. I know I’ve got no chance of winning the tournament and I’m most likely going to lose in the first round. But if it is my last match I want to try and enjoy it.”
Rafa Nadal believes Andy Mur ray i s doing the right thing by quitting tennis – for his physical and mental health.
The Spaniard and the Scot, 31, have been friends and rivals since their teens.
And having had suffered his own injury problems over the years, Nadal knows the toll they can take on the body and mind.
He’ll be sad to see his pal walk – or limp – away from the tour but understands his decision.
Nadal, 32, said: “Of course it is very bad news.
“But when somebody like him, who achieved almost everything, is suffering for such a long time? When you feel you are not competitive for the thing that really makes you wake up every morning and go on court with the passion to practice?
“Then is (the decision) so difficult? No.
“In some way I can speak about similarities. When you are going on court every day without the clear goal because you cannot move well, you have pain, then is a moment to take a decision.
“He has probably been fighting to keep going for a long time. If he doesn’t feel things can go better then he’s probably doing the right thing for his mental health.
“He will be a big loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals.
“He has been part of a great rivalry between the best players for a long time and has been a great competitor. But that’s life.
“We’ve always had a good relationship. We shared moments in my academy.
“We shared courts in the most important stadiums in the world, competing for the most important things. That’s impossible to forget.
“We will miss him. It seems like he had not a very long career because today players are playing that long. But 10 years ago, if he retired at 31, we would say he had a great and very long career.”
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares won the doubles title at the Sydney International, beating No.1 seeds Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal 6- 4 6-3.
But Cameron Norrie lost 6- 4 6-2 to America’s Tennys Sandgren in his first ATP Tour final at the ASB Classic in Auckland.