Andy Murray was playing in the 1,001st match of his career
Andy Murray says it is unlikely he will keep playing tennis beyond the summer but the former world No 1 is hopeful of competing at the Olympics in Paris before he retires.
The three-time Grand Slam champion suggested on Monday that he may only have a few months left in his playing career. That was after beating Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the Dubai Open — only his second victory in eight matches in 2024.
On Wednesday morning the 36-year-old told the BBC that he hoped to compete at this summer’s Olympics. The tennis tournament begins on July 27, less than a fortnight after Wimbledon. Murray won gold for Great Britain in the men’s singles event at London 2012 and Rio 2016. “Hopefully I can get the chance to compete at another one,” he said.
Hours after that interview, he lost in the second round in Dubai in straight sets to Ugo Humbert, the world No 18. During the match, Murray could be heard saying “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing” after losing a point to his French opponent. Those who have followed Murray’s career will know that kind of behaviour is far from out of character, but after the defeat, he cut a disconsolate figure.
“I’m likely not going to play past this summer,” he said. “I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest.”
It is five years since Murray first raised the prospect of retirement, but he resurrected his career by having hip-resurfacing surgery in January 2019. Although he has competed at a good level since then, and achieved some victories against high-ranked opponents, he has failed to make it past the third round of a Grand Slam.
“When the time is right I will probably say something before I play my last match and my last tournament,” he told the BBC. “Whether I say anything months ahead of the time, I don’t know.”
On how he might bow out, Murray said: “There’s no right way of finishing your career and everyone is different so what might be the right way for Roger Federer might not be the right way for Rafael Nadal, might not be the right way for Novak Djokovic.”
Andy Murray’s three Grand Slam wins have come at Wimbledon (2013 and 2016) and the US Open (2012). This year’s US Open runs from August 26 to September 8. Later that month, Great Britain will also be competing in the Davis Cup. Murray was part of the British team that won the event in 2015.
