Tennis news - Andy Murray to retire this year, 'a chance' Australian Open the end
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Updated 11/01/2019 at 12:31 GMT
A tearful Andy Murray broke down several times as he conceded that the Australian Open may be his final tournament, even though he had planned a Wimbledon exit.
Andy Murray breaks down at his Australian Open press conference
Image credit: Getty Images
Murray revealed in a very emotional press conference that he may be forced to retire after the Australian Open, with the severe pain from his right hip having become almost unbearable.
The three-times Grand Slam champion, now ranked 230th in the world, said that he had initially planned to retire after Wimbledon tournament but admitted that he may struggle to continue beyond Melbourne Park.
"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," Murray said.
The pain is too much, really, and I don’t want to continue playing that way. The pain is not allowing me to enjoy competing or training or any of the stuff I love about tennis.
"I'm going to play [at the Australian Open], I can still play to a level, not a level that I'm happy playing at."
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Andy Murray
Image credit: Getty Images
Murray made his initial comeback from hip surgery last June, but was forced to abandon the remainder of his 2018 season after being plagued with pain.
The Brit revealed that during a pre-season camp in December he told his team that he felt he could not go on for much longer.
"Just playing with no idea when the pain was going to stop, and I felt like making that decision," he said.
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Emotional Murray: It's not fun anymore... I don't know if I'll make Wimbledon
I said to my team, ‘Look, I think I can kind of get through this until Wimbledon.' That was where I’d like to stop -- stop playing. But I’m also not certain I’m able to do that.
Murray added that quality of life was now his priority going forward with his hip and that a further operation remained an option, though not to prolong his career.
"I have an option to have another operation which is a little bit more kind of severe than what I've had before, having my hip resurfaced which would allow me to have a better quality of life," he said.
"That's something I'm seriously considering right now. Bob Bryan had this operation post-Wimbledon last year and is obviously playing.
"But obviously there’s a difference between singles and doubles in terms of the physicality and movement and stuff. Certainly, no guarantees there."
After having to leave the press conference to compose himself, he said basic things in everyday life, like putting on socks and shoes, were causing him severe pain.
Murray will play 22nd seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round on Monday.
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