Andy Murray has hinted his retirement from tennis is imminent as he discussed his ambitions for the “last few months” of his career.
On Monday in the Dubai Championships, Murray achieved his second win of 2024 after overcoming Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in a tough match. Despite losing the first set, Murray bounced back to win in three sets, with a final score of 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. This victory also marked his 500th hard-court win, making him the fifth player in the Open era to reach this milestone. However, Murray acknowledged that it is becoming increasingly challenging to cope with the physical demands of the sport at 36 years old.
“I may not have much time left, but I will give my best in these remaining few months,” he stated following the match. “I still have a passion for competing and playing, but it becomes increasingly challenging as you age to maintain your physical fitness and endurance.”
Murray expressed pride in his hard-court record, stating that it has been a successful surface for him throughout his career. He reached the milestone of 500 matches on hard courts and is happy to achieve this before retirement.
Understanding the future of Murray’s career has been a constant struggle in the past few years, as the two-time Wimbledon champion has faced ongoing challenges with his fitness and injuries. However, he has always made a comeback despite these setbacks. At the 2019 Australian Open, he emotionally admitted to playing through the pain of a damaged hip and even questioned if that tournament would be his final one. Despite undergoing extensive surgery and four years passing, Murray continued to compete and during this year’s Australian Open, he stated to the audience, “There’s a strong possibility that this could be my last time playing here.”
After that, Murray proceeded to secure a victory in the first round of the Doha Open last week. However, he was ultimately defeated by 18-year-old Jakub Mensik in the second round. During the loss, he was said to have exclaimed to his team in the stands: “This sport is no longer for me.”
When questioned about his comments after beating Shapovalov, Murray stated that his words on the court are often misinterpreted. Despite this, he constantly gets asked about retirement. Despite this, he still enjoys playing and being part of the game.
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Murray is set to compete against either the fifth seed player, Ugo Humbert, or wildcard entrant Gaël Monfils in the second round of the Dubai tournament.
