Australian Open 2024: Andy Murray on Melbourne defeat and retirement plans

For as many years as we can remember, Andy Murray has been chuntering at his team and imploring the crowd for more support when things are not going his way.

In a limp first-round exit at the Australian Open, there was little of that.

Murray recently discussed how he was going to try to show less frustration on court this season when he was not playing as well as he would expect.

In a difficult end to the 2023 season there was a lot of emotion during his matches – shouting towards his box, screaming at himself, gripping his strings and threatening to smash racquets in the tough moments.

But in a chastening 6-4 6-2 6-2 defeat by Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Monday, there was barely a flicker of emotion from the 36-year-old as the match ran away from him.

Former British number one Tim Henman, who has known Murray since he was a teenager, described it as a “painful watch” while commentating for Eurosport.

The mood at Melbourne Park was a far cry from the triumphant scenes last year when the man with the metal hip defied the odds to win marathon matches against Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Something has changed.

Calmer demeanour leads to ‘flat’ performance

Former world number one Murray said it was a “bizarre feeling” not to be so expressive and does not know if trying to keep a lid on his feelings had an effect on what he called a “flat” performance.

“I know at times when I’m on the court, I’ve always got frustrated and shown my emotions on the court,” the three-time Grand Slam champion said.

“There’s no question at times in the last eight-10 months it has been affecting me in matches and at times during my career.

“I’m aware that side of things hasn’t been perfect. I didn’t feel like out of control on the court.

“[Against Etcheverry] I didn’t feel unbelievably frustrated whilst I was playing. I was trying to stay a little bit calmer.

“I don’t know if that was a reason for me not playing well or not.”

Murray said there was a balance to strike, adding: “I would say someone like Novak [Djokovic] is a good example for me to look at. He’s not perfect on the court.

“Sometimes he will get frustrated, but when he’s playing the points he’s focused and intense on every single point he plays.

“I think that’s when I would play generally my best tennis when it’s like that.”

Retirement timeframe becoming ‘narrower’

Murray has been far from playing his best tennis in recent months. Four consecutive defeats. Eight defeats in his past 12 matches since the start of the US Open in August.

But remember: the fact the 36-year-old is even playing at all remains remarkable.

Five years ago at Melbourne Park, the Scot tearfully said he thought he would have to retire later that year because of impending hip surgery.

The resurfacing operation involves a metal cap being inserted into the socket of the hip where it meets with the femur. No singles player had ever returned to the tour from that procedure.

Murray did return – later in the 2019 season – and incredibly won an ATP title in Antwerp a few months later.

In the past four seasons he has produced a host of memorable moments and broken back into the world’s top 40.

A deep run at a Grand Slam continues to evade him and it understandably seems difficult for a player of his previous stature to accept he cannot compete to the standard which he would like.

Murray says he will stop playing when he is no longer enjoying it, but also has a farewell point for when he wants to bring the curtain on his illustrious career.

“I haven’t made any definite decisions on that. But I’ve spoken to my family and my team about it,” he added.

“They’re very aware of how I feel about things, where I would like to finish playing, when that would be.”

As we have seen over the years, things can quickly change in his mind but when it comes to the day most athletes fear – retirement – it is going to come down to two things: results and fitness.

Now, after an arduous journey to regain the latter, it is the former which has left him questioning his future.

In a frank but sombre news conference after losing to Etcheverry, he said: “I haven’t gained in belief from today’s match that at some stage I’m going to start playing really well again or winning tournaments or getting to the latter stages of major events.

“Last year was a slightly different story. Physically I held up well against two really good players. It is a very different situation sitting here.

“So the timeframe narrows a little bit for me to get to a level that I want to be at.” – bbc.com