Great Britain’s Andy Murray hinted at the finite nature of his tennis career, expressing that he may only have “a few months” remaining after clinching his second victory of 2024 in Dubai. The 36-year-old triumphed over Canadian Denis Shapovalov with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Reflecting on his win, Murray remarked,
“I probably don’t have too long left but I’ll do as best as I can these last few months.”
Prior to his recent successes, Murray had endured a six-match losing streak, breaking it last week with his inaugural win of the year in Doha.
“I still love competing and still love the game but it gets harder and harder to compete the older you get, to keep your body fit and fresh,” he said.
The potential retirement of three-time Grand Slam champion Murray has been a subject of discussion for several years, particularly following his hip replacement surgery in 2019. Despite the challenges, Murray made a remarkable comeback to the court, securing another title and reaching three additional finals, the latest being against Daniil Medvedev in Doha last year.
However, the 2024 season presented a rocky start for Murray, losing his first four matches and describing it as a “terrible moment.” Despite ongoing speculation about his retirement, Murray asserted his determination not to quit.
While he struggled at the Australian Open and suffered defeats in subsequent ATP Tour matches in France, Murray remained resolute in his commitment to deliver performances he knows he is still capable of.
Last week in Doha, Murray’s victory against world number 75 Alexandre Muller showcased one of his resilient performances. However, his momentum faltered as he suffered a defeat to 18-year-old Jakub Mensik, ranked 116th, in the second round, consequently sliding to 67th in the world rankings.
Amidst the match with Mensik, Murray seemingly conveyed to his box, “This game is not for me anymore.” Yet, when questioned about these remarks during his appearance in Dubai on Monday, Murray clarified,
“People read a lot into what I say on the court, and it’s not always rational.”
A former champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Murray showcased his resilience by staging a comeback against the 120th-ranked Shapovalov in a grueling match lasting two hours and 33 minutes. This victory also marked Murray’s 500th career win on hard courts, a milestone achieved by only a select few including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andre Agassi.
“Obviously hard courts have been a great surface for me over the years and 500 is a lot of matches. So yeah, I’m very proud of that. It’s great to get that before I’m done,” he said.
Former world number 10 Shapovalov experienced a decline, falling out of the world’s top 100 after a six-month injury hiatus.
Despite his setback, he began the match strongly, securing a breakpoint and serving out the opening set, while Murray’s frustration boiled over as he smashed his racket into the court.
The second set saw both players exchanging breaks, but neither could establish a decisive lead. Murray emerged victorious in the tie-break, leveling the match.
In the deciding set, the two-time Wimbledon champion seized an early break, maintaining composure to clinch the win with his first match point, as Shapovalov’s return found the net.
