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36-year-old Andy Murray acknowledged the possibility that his recent appearance in the Australian Open might have been his last. The disappointment lingered after his early exit in the men's singles at the season's first Grand Slam event, with Murray conveying regret over not delivering what the crowd expected.
Despite being a five-time finalist at the Australian Open, Murray faced a convincing defeat in the first round at the hands of Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who secured a resounding 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over the British tennis star. This marked Murray's second consecutive first-round setback, following his earlier elimination by Grigor Dimitrov in the Brisbane International earlier in the month.
Murray expressed dissatisfaction with his performance in the first round, particularly given the excitement he had generated among the Melbourne crowd the previous year. Despite enduring the physical toll of a prolonged battle with hip injuries, surgeries, and resulting osteoarthritis, Murray managed to reach the third round at Melbourne Park in 2023. His journey was characterised by two demanding five-set victories, including an epic comeback against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
"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 and everything, I don't know," Murray told the press after losing to Etcheverry.
"Whilst you're playing the match, you're 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," he added.
Since reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2017, Murray has not advanced beyond the quarterfinal stage in any Grand Slam. The three-time Grand Slam champion, a prominent figure in the modern era's Big 4 of tennis, is now uncertain about his future in the sport.
Murray's well-documented struggles with his hip have taken a toll, affecting him both physically and mentally. The persistent discomfort and the resulting constraints on his game have posed significant challenges in the latter part of his career. Despite these obstacles, Murray's past achievements, encompassing 46 ATP Tour singles titles, 14 Masters 1000 events, and two Olympic gold medals, underscore his exceptional contributions to the sport.
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