All eyes on Murray at Aussie Open

MELBOURNE – Typically the conversation ahead of the start of a Grand Slam tournament is all about predictions as to which player is likely to lift the trophy in two week’s time.

That, however, is not the case regarding the men’s event at this Australian Open. Rather than wondering if top seed Novak Djokovic, second seed Rafael Nadal, third seed Roger Federer or some outsider will capture the first major of the season, the focus is all on the unseeded Andy Murray.

The three-time Grand Slam champion and reigning two-time Olympic gold medalist made a bombshell announcement Friday that his retirement from tennis is imminent. Suffering from a right hip injury for nearly two years, which surgery last year here in Melbourne failed to cure, Murray confirmed the pain is proving to be too difficult to endure any longer.

“I can still play but not to the level I’m happy playing at,” said the 31-year-old, who would like to finish his career at Wimbledon, where he’s been the champion twice. “I don’t want to continue playing that way. I tried pretty much everything that I could to get it right.”

Murray, who reached the Australian Open final on five occasions, acknowledged that there was a chance that fans will see the last of him playing professionally here in Melbourne.

On Monday, he’ll take on 22nd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the first round. The three previous outings Murray had with Agut all went in his own favor without a loss of a set, but there is concern that his luck might change this time around.

Often spoken of as the best generation of men’s tennis in history, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer weighed in about the soon-to-be departed Murray from their fabulous four club. The discussion was tinged with the reality they are all over 30 now, have all had injuries that have disrupted their careers, and an awareness that any one of them could be the next to go.