Murray said it himself after losing to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in the first round of the French Open last month. Finishing with a defeat is more than likely, particularly for a player in their late 30s who has been beset by injuries and ranked outside the top 100.
But another fitness issue for Murray feels especially cruel given the way he wants to bow out. Rupturing ankle ligaments at the Miami Open in March, just as Murray began to show signs of resurgent form, was already a considerable blow.
Even though he was able to return seven weeks later, he has been hampered by a back problem exacerbated by playing on clay. “The treatment I had on my back after the French Open was predominantly left-sided. This was my right leg,” said Murray.
“I have dealt with back issues for a long time, for the last 10 years or so, and it’s probably quite common for a lot of players. “But I have never experienced that before.” said Murray.
