Andy Murray drops major retirement hint after waving goodbye to the Australian Open crowd following limp first-round straight sets defeat

Andy Murray has already mentioned his exit technique from tennis with these near him, and that course of can have been accelerated by a humbling defeat within the first spherical of the Australian Open.

The double Wimbledon champion, five-times a finalist at Melbourne Park, was beaten 6-4 6-2 6-2 by 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. He later revealed that the timeline is shrinking for him to bid farewell.

Murray was surprisingly subdued in happening to an especially strong if not particularly intimidating opponent, and minimize a despondent determine afterwards. He had left the courtroom with a 360 diploma flip to wave in any respect corners, and he subsequently defined the explanation for that.

‘It is a particular risk that would be the final time I play right here,’ he mentioned, after happening in two hours and 24 minutes. ‘Compared to the matches that I performed right here final 12 months, it is the exact opposite feeling strolling off the courtroom.’

Clearly the date and method of his retirement has been on his thoughts and, whereas there may be nothing definitive, he admitted that performances like this could solely deliver it ahead.

Murray was overwhelmed 6-4 6-2 6-2 by thirtieth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry (above) within the first spherical

‘I’ve an thought of after I would in all probability like to complete, a lot of that is determined by the way you’re taking part in. The time-frame for that narrows whenever you play and have outcomes like in the present day.’

It isn’t as if the topic has been taboo with both the workforce round him, or his household.

‘I’ve spoken to them about it. I’ve spoken to my household about it a number of instances,’ he revealed. ‘I’ve spoken to my workforce about it. they’re very conscious of how I really feel about issues, the place I want to end taking part in, when that might be.

‘I have never made any particular choices on that. It is clearly one thing that I would like to consider and see precisely when that’s.’

Wimbledon is the plain place to exit, however the US Open holds a particular place in his coronary heart, being the place the place he gained his first Grand Slam.

What he could possibly be completely clear about was that there is no such thing as a future in simply making up the numbers, and being unable to make any impression on the sphere. The distinction to 2023, when he reached the third spherical by dramatic comebacks, was not misplaced on him.

Murray minimize a despondent determine after shedding to the Argentine, waving farewell to the group

In his post-match press convention, he mentioned: ‘It was a poor efficiency. It was very, very flat’

‘Final 12 months was a barely totally different story. Bodily I held up effectively in opposition to two actually good gamers. Very totally different state of affairs sitting right here. So the timeframe narrows a little bit bit for me to get to a stage that I need to be at.

‘It was a poor efficiency. It was very, very flat. It was an incredible crowd. I felt like they had been making an attempt to choose me up, assist and get behind me. Often I’d all the time interact the group and get them going and convey some vitality.

‘But it surely was a flat efficiency. I do not know precisely why that was the case as a result of I have been feeling good getting in. Performed fairly effectively in Brisbane. Practised very well the final 10 days or so.

‘Tomas is a extremely good participant. I am conscious of that. Even when I play effectively in the present day, I can nonetheless lose the match. It is simply the character of the efficiency that makes you query issues.’