Former world No. 1 Andy Murray admits he is unsure how will his career come to an end as he has suggested that he just one day might drop a surprise retirement. On Wednesday, Murray suffered yet another devastating loss in 2022.
This time, Murray fell short to fellow Briton Cameron Norrie in a three-set battle as Norrie recovered from a set down to win 3-6 6-3 6-4. After the loss, Murray was asked whether there were any thoughts on retiring soon.
“It’s a difficult one,” Murray said after exiting Cincinnati. “When I had the injury problems a few years ago and didn’t know whether I was going to be able to play, I may be always envisaged finishing my career in the UK or whatever.
But when I played that match against [Roberto] Bautista Agut [in the first round of the 2019 Australian Open, losing in five sets], I said to my team, if that was it and I don’t get to play again, I was more than happy with that being my last match, because it was [an] amazing atmosphere, it was a great match, I fought right to the end until I could basically hardly walk at the end, and left everything out on the court.
For me, it would have been fine if that was how it finished. There is part of it I think when you announce that you’re retiring that I would imagine psychologically it’s quite difficult, as well. There is a lot of pressure then, I think because you want to perform and because it’s the last couple of tournaments.
Just the whole situation puts a lot of stress on the performance. So I don’t know whether I would announce something or whether I would just stop and that would be it. I don’t know”.
Murray on losing to Norrie
Murray lost his service game in the very opening game of the match but bounced back by breaking Norrie twice and winning the first set.
After winning the first set, Murray missed out on a breakpoint in the first game and Norrie claimed a break in the eighth game, before serving out for the second set in the ninth game. In the third set, Murray lost his service in key moments as Norrie earned a break in the ninth game and served out for the match in the 10th game.
“Sometimes I felt like I played very well and then I didn’t,” said Murray. “I wasn’t as consistent as I would have liked, but I think I had good moments and was able to win the game. Certainly (Norrie) has improved his game.
He’s returning a little bit better, serving a little better, raising the level of his shots from the baseline. Plus, he’s having the best time of his career.” Murray hasn’t been playing well this summer on hard courts.
After picking up back-to-back first-round losses in Washington and Montreal, Murray won a match in Cincinnati before losing to Norrie.
