Andy Murray resigned to his fate as he makes admission after US Open exit

31 August 2023 , 23:08

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Andy Murray was left disappointed after crashing out of the US Open in the second round, matching his showing at Wimbledon. (Image: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Andy Murray has admitted that his days of challenging for Grand Slams could be over after he crashed out of the US Open in the second round.

The three-time Grand Slam victor slumped to a disappointing straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 loss against Grigor Dimitrov at Arthur Ashe Stadium. In truth, the Scotsman struggled during a drab showing in Flushing Meadows, as he failed to reach the second week of the tournament for a fifth consecutive year.

The former world No. 1 also was unable to recapture his old magic at Wimbledon earlier this summer, where he also exited at the second round stage. Murray won two Challenger events this summer to regain a ranking among the top 40 players on the ATP tour but he was unable to continue this streak at the two majors which followed.

The Scotsman's serve was broken on six occasions and he was only able to register 16 winners - with just four of these coming in the first set. The disgruntled star cut an increasingly frustrated figure on the court, often turning the ire on his coaching team, as he failed to defeat his Bulgarian opponent.

Expressing his disappointment at crashing out before the third-round stage of a Grand Slam once again, the veteran star did seem to be keeping perspective about his situation, however. Speaking following the loss versus Dimitrov, the world's 37th-ranked player explained: "It's obviously disappointing to not play how you would like.

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"But maybe I need to accept that [at] these events. I had the deep runs and everything that I felt like I'm capable of, they might not be there.

"I'm aware of what I'm doing, it's unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now. And some days it's harder than others. But today is obviously a really disappointing defeat and probably the manner of it as well."

Former British No.1 Andy Murray reached the second round of the US Open (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Murray has been unable to go beyond the second round in any major since 2017 and he has since undergone two rounds of hip surgery, including the insertion of a metal hip. He has also only been able to win two matches at any of the three Grand Slams he has participated in this year.

Although the tennis legend still maintains his love for the sport and competing at the highest level, he did admit that could change in the future, if his results and ranking slip. He added: "I've obviously been progressing this year from a ranking perspective.

"I had some great matches in Australia. You never know what's gonna happen, but I think I was close to having a good run at Wimbledon. I still enjoy everything that goes into playing at a high level. I enjoy the work.

"If things change and I stop enjoying that or my results, my ranking and everything, like, if I start to go backwards in that respect, in a few months' time — I was ranked 60 in the world or whatever instead of moving up the way — things might change."

Tom Beattie