Sir Andy Murray has announced plans to retire after a stellar career.
In an emotional press conference at the Australian Open, the Dunblane native suggested that although he would like to end his career at Wimbledon, the Australian Open could be his last ever tournament.
The news comes after Murray has struggled to recover after a hip operation last January. Speaking to journalists in Melbourne, Murray said:
“I’ve been in pain for about 20 months now. I’ve pretty much done everything I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn’t helped loads.
“I’m in a better place than I was six months ago but I’m still in a lot of pain. I can still play to a level, but not a level I have played at.”
It is this level that has seen Murray being named the greatest tennis player Britain has ever produced.
Over the course of his career he has won two Wimbledon titles, one US Open title, 14 Masters 1000 Series titles, two gold medals at the Olympics and was the winner of the ATP Finals in 2016.
The Scot also played an integral role in helping the British Davis Cup team win their first Davis Cup title since 1936 in 2015 away to Belgium.
Tributes to the Scot have flooded in from the tennis community and further afield. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently tweeted:
“(Andy) Murray is a legend – without doubt one of Scotland’s greatest ever sportsmen, as well as an outstanding role model and inspiration for young people everywhere. A credit to sport and to the country. Sending him very best wishes.”
In his opening match at the Australian Open, Murray will play 22nd seed Roberto Bautista-Agut.
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