Is Andy Murray officially done with tennis?
Even he can’t answer that question just yet.
The former No. 1 earned worldwide adulation after his five set opening round loss at the Australian Open to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
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After the thrilling match, Murray told fans that he gave everything he had, in what was viewed as the three time major champion’s last professional match.
Yet Murray finds himself now having to make an important decision about possibly career ending hip surgery that would, hopefully, end the constant pain he now suffers and give him a better quality of life.
If Murray is truly satisfied that Melbourne is his swan song, he will undergo the surgery. But, if he wants to possibly play at Wimbledon later this summer, he would instead need to take several months off and rest before having one more go on the lawns of the All-England Club.
“I have basically like two options. One is to take the next four and a half months off, then build up, you know, play Wimbledon,” Murray said. “I could play another match, but if I want to try to play again, I want to improve my quality of life, because even if I take four months, I still can't walk. I'm still in pain doing just basic day-to-day things.
But having an operation like that, there's absolutely no guarantees I'd be able to play again. I'm fully aware of that. It's a really big operation. There's no guarantees that you can come back from that.”
Murray’s performance in his loss gave him some satisfaction that he played the best he could, despite his hip giving him issues. The match, which showcased Murray's vintage fight and heart, may well be the best conclusion to his Hall of Fame career.
“Yeah, I just don't really know yet. But, you know, if today was my last match, look, it was a brilliant way to finish, as well. That's something that I'll probably take into consideration, as well. It was an amazing atmosphere. I literally gave everything that I had on the court, fought as best as I could, and performed a lot better than what I should have done without the amount I've been able to practice and train, you know, whatever.
I'd be okay with that being my last match.”
Murray will likely make his decision in the next week.
Whatever he decides, Murray’s bravura performance in Melbourne will certainly be remembered as part of his enduring tennis legacy as one of the sport’s greats.