UPDATE (March 6th): Murray has since undergone surgery and is now pain free. He is unlikely to play at Wimbledon this year but may continue his career beyond then. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this article, there have been hints that Murray may try to prolong his career. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
Andy Murray today announced his retirement from tennis. The former British #1 had been plagued by an ongoing hip injury the last couple of years.
2017 & 2018 saw Murray miss substantial sections of the season due to the troublesome hip. The Brit launched a second comeback in 2019 starting in Brisbane. It was clear that he still enjoyed the game; however, he knew then that it may not be long before hanging up his racquet.
Murray was visibly distraught at a press conference in Melbourne, even leaving the room in tears at one point.
An emotional Andy Murray, who is wearing Castore kit, in press conference: "(the hip) is not great." Struggling to speak here.
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) January 11, 2019
The Brit said he will attempt to play the Australian Open and that he would like to retire at Wimbledon. However, he admitted that even that may not be possible if the hip would not allow him.
Murray: "Wimbledon is where i would like to stop playing but I am not certain I am able to do that."
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) January 11, 2019
During Murray’s time on court the Brit achieved many things that had seemed like a pipe dream. Winning the Olympic Gold medal at the home Olympics in London 2012 was the start. The same year the Brit won the US Open, which no Brit had achieved since Fred Perry in 1936.
The following year Murray ended the 77 year wait for a British male singles champion at Wimbledon. The Brit had to bypass a couple of tricky matches en route to the final, including coming back from two sets down against Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinal.
Murray had taken a step back from the Davis Cup team but returned in 2013 and helped the team progress to the World Group, defeating Croatia in the play off. In 2015 the former British number one played in every tie and was unbeaten in both singles and doubles.
The team ended another Fred Perry ghost and once again made history by beating America, France, Australia, and Belgium to lift the trophy. Murray also broke the mould of coaching, becoming the first male player to hire a female coach in Amélie Mauresmo.
Tennis Records
At the Rio Olympics in 2016 the Brit retained his singles gold medal, the first player of either gender to win back to back Olympic singles titles. This followed from another singles title at Wimbledon.
Murray is the only player to win five titles at the Queens Club in London. The Brit also holds the record of being the only male player to lose five finals at the Australian Open.
The Brit holds 21 Masters 1000 titles, and in 2016 ended the year as World #1. He also defeated Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Finals that year.
Murray retiring from the sport he loves will be a big loss. Not only to the sport itself, as the Brit had firmly embedded himself as one of the so called “Big Four,” but by his army of fans around the world.
The retirement means a big loss for British Tennis, as it is unlikely to see the likes of Murray again. There are big shoes to fill for the other Brits on the tour with Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie currently carrying the hopes of the nation.
Murray hanging up his racquet on the professional tour does not mean totally the end. The Brit is likely to be seen on the “senior tour” and could move into coaching. The former World #1 already mentors several young players through his agency. Taking the step into coaching does not seem like a huge leap.
Whatever Andy Murray chooses to do, though, he will be sorely missed by his fans and the entire sport. He gave so much to tennis. Hopefully the hip allows him to play at Wimbledon, so tennis can give something back.
Editor’s Note: The press conference is now on YouTube.
