Former world number one, Andy Murray, has suggested that he may be approaching the final stretch of his illustrious career. He made this statement following his hard-fought victory over Denis Shapovalov, prevailing 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 at the Dubai Championships on Monday. 

Reflecting on his milestone achievement and his career trajectory, the 36-year-old Murray acknowledged the challenges of competing at the highest level as he grows older. In an on-court interview after his impressive first-round win on Monday, Murray admitted, “I obviously still love competing and still love the game, but it obviously gets harder and harder the older you get to compete with the young guys and keep your body fit and fresh.” He candidly added, “I probably don’t have too long left, but I’ll do as best as I can these last few months.”

The Brit has been grappling with the decision to retire for some time, particularly as he battles injuries, most notably his artificial hip. His victory in Dubai marks only his second win of the year, which puts into perspective the challenges he faces in prolonging his career at the highest level.

In the past few years, Murray has struggled to play in events, oftentimes pulling out at the last minute or crashing out after the first or second round. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time Grand Slam champion, it is quite evident that Murray may no longer be able to return to top form again. 

Following a disappointing early exit at the Australian Open last month, where he fell in straight sets to Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round, Murray openly contemplated whether it would be his final appearance at the prestigious tournament, hinting at the uncertainty surrounding his future in the sport. But it seems like this time, he is set to make up his mind and would give an official update about his plans for retirement quite soon.

Leon Osamor