Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski has suggested that Andy Murray could possibly be gearing up for a final farewell from tennis as early as next year.
The former US Open finalist, who now works as a TV analyst for Prime Sport, told Tennis365 that he thinks it is possible that Murray could play his farewell tournament at Wimbledon next year which will be the 16th anniversary of his Grand Slam debut at the event. Murray has been hampered by various injury setbacks since 2017 and has undergone two hip operations within as many years. This season he has also been troubled by pelvic bruising and was forced to pull out of his final tournament in Cologne due to an injury in the same area.
Rusedski is hoping that his fellow countryman will be able to get back in top form in time for the Wimbledon Championships next July. In 2020 the Grand Slam was cancelled for the first time since World War Two this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I hope for Murray that he can have a big Wimbledon Championship and there is a crowd for him there,” said Rusedski. “He’s got problems with the hip still so for me for him to win a major I think it’s too hard for him, but he could still have a good run.
“Even to win a Masters Series is a big ask, semis possibly. Masters Series is back-to-back and he hasn’t had much tennis during Covid. Who knows if Wimbledon could be his last event?
“He’s had an incredible career. Two Wimbledon titles, two Olympics golds, world No.1, he has nothing to prove to anyone.“
Murray has only managed to play in four tournaments this year due to both injury and the pandemic. Overall, he has won three out of seven matches played with his best run being at the Western and Southern Open where he defeated Alexander Zverev en route to the third round.
“I’ve seen enough in the limited amount I have played in the last year. I was beating a top-10 player in Cincinnati, and then obviously at the end of last year I was still winning against guys like Stan [Wawrinka, in the European Open final],” Murray told reporters earlier this week.
Despite speculation over his future, the 33-year-old hasn’t mentioned the possibility of retirement next season as he continues his preparation for the Australian swing on the Tour in January. Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said that one of his goals for 2021 would be to play at the Olympics, where he would be bidding to win the singles title for a third consecutive time. The Games take place after Wimbledon.
“I would love to play in the Olympics again, to get another opportunity to do that would be huge for me,” he said. “It would be one of my top five priorities for the year, obviously I’d love to get the opportunity to play at Wimbledon, same with the Aussie Open. If I’m fit and well, I’d be pumped to go and try and win another medal in Tokyo.”
Murray is currently ranked 121st in the world.
