Murray hints he will retire this summer in frank admission after landmark win

26 February 2024 , 16:59

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Andy Murray is nearing the end of his career (Image: Noushad Thekkayil/Getty Images)

Andy Murray has dropped a big hint he will retire this summer by revealing he is entering the “last few months” of his career.

The Scot, who will turn 37 in May, won his 500th hard court match by fighting back to beat Denis Shapovalov in three sets in Dubai on Monday. It was Murray’s second win in six events in 2024 and during his last defeat in Qatar he told his coaching staff: “This game is not for me anymore”.

The three-time Grand Slam champion said in December this could be his final season – and he admitted he could have made his final Australian Open appearance last month. Murray said: “People read a lot into what I say on the court sometimes. It’s not always rational. But everybody asks me about it all of the time anyway.

“Look, I obviously still love competing, I still love the game but it’s getting harder and harder the older you get, to compete with the young guys, keep your body fit and fresh. Yeah, it is not easy. I probably don’t have too long left but I will do as best as I can these last few months.”

The world No.67, who has a metal hip, has a choice of potential farewell locations this year with Wimbledon the favourite. But the double gold medallist could bow out at the Paris Olympics, even playing doubles, or at the US Open where he won his first Grand Slam back in 2012.

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Shapovalov won their first meeting at Wimbledon in 2021, but the Canadian has dropped down to world No.121 after missing the end of last season with a knee injury. He took the first set but Murray then raised his game to win 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 with Shapovalov sending down 15 aces and 10 doubles faults.

Andy Murray has struggled for form recently (Shi Tang/Getty Images)

The Scot, who won the title in his last appearance in Dubai in 2017, said: “Both of us haven’t won too many matches lately. It wasn’t easy but I managed to get it done in the end. My dad (Willie) has come to support me this week which means a lot.”

Murray, who reached five Australian Open finals, is only the fifth man in tennis history to record 500 wins after Roger Federer (783) Novak Djokovic (700) Andre Agassi (592) and Rafa Nadal (518).

“Yes, it’s not bad,” he smiled. “Obviously hard courts have been a great surface for me over the years. Yeah, 500 is a lot of matches. I am very proud of that. The list that you have given there, there are not many players who have done that. Yeah, great to get to 500 before I am done.”

Neil McLeman