Australian Open | Andy Murray announces retirement

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Andy Murray was a tearful figure as he made a shocking announcement about his early retirement before the start of this year’s Australia Open. Murray, a five-time finalist, revealed his ongoing struggle with back and hip issues which could force him into early retirement due to excessive pain.

Two-time Olympic champion Andy Murray shocked all his fans and tennis lovers as he revealed that the Australia Open could be his last tournament on the grand stage. The 31-year old tennis player opened up about his ongoing struggle with back and hip issues which has forced him to watch from the sidelines in the last six months or so.

The three-time grand slam winner said he’d hoped to be able to get to Wimbledon in the middle of the year when he planned to officially retire, but his body may not allow him to last that long.

After barely surviving a practice session with Novak Djokovic on Thursday, Murray had to be excused early during his interview on Friday as he broke down in tears when asked about his fitness.

“So I’m not feeling great. Been struggling for a long time, I’ve been in a lot of pain for probably about 20 months. I’ve pretty much done everything I could to get my hip feeling better. I’m in a better place than I was six months ago but I’m still in a lot of pain. It’s been tough," Murray revealed to the press.

“I can’t even put my shoes or socks on without any pain. I have a severely damaged right hip, having the operation last year was to give it the best possible chance of being better. I can play with limitations. But having the limitations and the pain is not allowing me to enjoy competing or training.”

Chronic back pain and hip injuries have haunted the Scottish star over the past few years and he also had a hip operation last year in a bid to add some more years to his distinguished career. 

“During my training block 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.

“Pretty much done everything that I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn’t helped loads, I think there is a chance the Australian Open is my last tournament. I’m not sure I can play through the pain for another four or five months,” Murray concluded.

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