Andy Murray issues retirement threat as Brit concedes Grand Slam defeat

Andy Murray admitted his days of winning Grand Slams could be over after a bad defeat in the second round of the US Open. And the former world No.1, now 36, suggested he will consider quitting if he starts to drop down the rankings and falls out of the top 60.

Murray lost 6-3 6-4 6-1 to Grigor Dimirov in the Arthur Ashe Arena where he won his first Grand Slam title in 2012. But the world No.37 has still to get beyond the third round of a Grand Slam since 2017 Wimbledon and before his two hip operations and the insertion of a metal hip.

“It’s obviously disappointing, to not play how you would like,” he said. “But maybe I need to accept that these events, I had the deep runs and everything that I felt like I’m capable of, they might not be there, as well

“I’m aware what I’m doing, it’s unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now. And yeah, some days it’s harder than others. But today is obviously a really disappointing defeat and probably the manner of it as well.  I fought hard enough, but just didn’t play well enough.

“Ultimately these are the events that you want to play your best tennis in, and create more great moments and didn’t do that this year.”

Murray won two Challenger events this summer before Wimbledon but has not won an ATP Tour event since 2019. :I’ve obviously been progressing this year from a ranking perspective. I had some great matches in Australia. Well, quite a few amazing matches at the beginning of the year really, in Doha, as well. I think was close to, you know, you never know what’s gonna happen, but I think I was close to having a good run at Wimbledon.

“I still enjoy everything that goes into playing at a high level. I enjoy the work. The training and trying to improve and trying to get better, I do still enjoy that.

“And that’s what keeps me going. If things change and I stop enjoying that or my results, my ranking and everything, like, if I start to go backwards in that respect, you know, in a few months’ time I was ranked 60 in the world or whatever instead of moving up the way, things might change.”

Murray’s ranking does not get him into the Beijing Masters next month and he also suggested he is no longer worthy of a Davis Cup place with Jack Draper, who reached the third round, now the future for GB.

“Obviously the plan was to play Davis Cup, but if I’m being honest, the other guys deserve to play ahead of me,” he said. “I know it’s obviously probably a difficult situation, like, obviously for (captain) Leon (Smith) with Jack. He’s had quite a few injuries coming in, but if he’s fit and healthy, he’s obviously playing very well.

“Evo (Dan Evans) has had a great run in Washington. So we’ll see about Davis Cup and what happens there. I think there is probably a chance that I’m not on the team. See where I go from there. I’ll try and get home this evening or tomorrow morning.”