Andy Murray Calls Time On Career

Melbourne: Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray on Friday announced that he he plans to retire after this year's Wimbledon but fears next week's Australian Open could be the final tournament of his career.

Murray, who is struggling to recover from a hip surgery, was in tears as he spoke to journalists here, the BBC reported.

"I'm not sure I'm able to play through the pain for another four or five months," said the Scot.

"I want to get to Wimbledon and stop but I'm not certain I can do that."

Murray conceded: "I'm not feeling good, I've been struggling for a long time.

"I've been in a lot of pain for about 20 months now. I've pretty much done everything I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn't helped loads.

"I'm in a better place than I was six months ago but I'm still in a lot of pain. I can still play to a level, but not a level I have played at."

Murray also ruled out becoming a doubles player in the future, ending the possibility of him teaming up with older brother Jamie, the BBC said.

However, the 31-year-old said that he still intended to play his Australian Open first-round match against Spanish 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut on January 14.

The former world number one had surgery on his right hip last January and has played 14 matches since returning to the sport last June.

Murray ended his 2018 season in September to spend time working with rehabilitation expert Bill Knowles, but still looked short of the required level when he played world number one Novak Djokovic in an open practice match at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

Six years ago, Murray became the first British man to win at home at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936, CNN reported.

He has won two other grand slams and is the lone man to win back-to-back Olympic singles gold medals.

Murray received a knighthood for his tennis achievements and charity work on the eve of 2017.

He will become the first member of tennis' so-called "Big Four" -- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the other three -- to quit the game.

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(IANS)