Andy Murray was beaten easily at the 2024 Australian Open and admitted it will likely be the final time he will play in Melbourne in the strongest hint yet of a future retirement for the former World No.1.
Murray was defeated by Tomas Martin Etcheverry with the latter sealing it 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and fans mooted that Murray who has not been picking up wins for a while on a consistent basis would potentially head towards retirement. He confirmed those suspicions post match saying that it is a 'definite possibility' that it was his final bow at the Australian Open.
The Brit himself has previously said that he wouldn't have a retirement tour as he wouldn't have thought anyone would care as much as the bigger names of his era but that while he can still compete with the best, he will still play. Stan Wawrinka similarly lost earlier today and diminished his own retirement hopes so time will soon tell on Murray, but after a crestfallen loss and a few years on from his career nearly ending due to injury, the World No.1 is the closest it seems to calling time on his career.
“It’s a definite possibility that will be the last time I play here. And yeah, I think probably because of how the match went & everything, I don't know," said Murray post-match.
"Whilst you're playing the match, you're obviously trying to control your emotions, focus on the points & everything. When you're one point away from the end, you're like, I can't believe this is over so quickly, and like this.
"Yeah, in comparison to the matches that I played here last year, it's the complete opposite feeling walking off the court. Yeah, wish I involved the crowd more. Just disappointed with the way I played and all of that stuff. Tough, tough way to finish.”
