Andrew Cotter, Andy Murray and Tim Henman (left-right) in the commentary box on centre court on day nine of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon.
Tim Henman has given his assessment on whether Andy Murray should keep playing and believes his fellow Brit “wants a return on his investment” for the work he has put in.
The former world No 4 does not think Murray should retire while he still has the hunger to compete and highlighted the fact the 36-year-old played “some really good tennis” at times last year.
Murray fell to a 5-7, 4-6 defeat to 23-year-old Czech Tomas Machac in the opening round of the ATP 250 event in Marseille last week to take his record in 2024 to 0-4.
A week earlier, the three-time Grand Slam champion suffered a disappointing three-set loss to Benoit Paire in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in Montpellier.
The world No 50 has lost his last six competitive matches and nine of his last 10 going back to September during a nightmarish run of form.
Andy Murray recently vowed to keep playing after some observers suggested he should consider bringing an end to his glittering career given his struggles.
“Most people would quit and give up in my situation right now. But I’m not most people and my mind works differently. I won’t quit. I will keep fighting and working to produce the performances I know I’m capable of,” the former world No 1 wrote on X.
The 36-year-old is next due to compete at the ATP 250 tournament in Doha next week, with Rafael Nadal also set to make his return to action in Qatar. Murray was a runner-up in Doha last year during a bright start to the 2023 campaign.
Six-time major semi-finalist Henman joined a host of prominent figures in the sport by backing Murray to remain in tennis for as long as he wants.
“While obviously he has the energy and the enthusiasm and the hunger and desire and motivation to keep on playing, he should keep playing,” the Brit told Express Sport.
“A professional tennis player is the best job in the world and trust me, there’s plenty of time to be retired in the future. He wants a return on his investment and he hasn’t had that recently because he’s been working as hard as ever and he hasn’t got the wins.
“But most importantly, he has the belief that the wins will come. So as long as he wants to keep playing, I absolutely support that. And he’s earned the right to do that.
“And he doesn’t want to be at these tournaments losing first round, he’s as motivated as he’s ever been and what he’s been able to do with a metal hip is amazing.
“So I really hope that he can get some wins under his belt because there were plenty of times last year where I thought that he was playing some really good tennis.
“And I thought Wimbledon was a classic example of that. I thought he was very unlucky against [Stefanos] Tsitsipas to be up two sets to one and have to come back the next day. And so I really hope that he can have a change of fortune and get some wins.”
