Murray’s see-saw season continues as he crashes out of the Dubai Duty Free championships, an ATP 500 event, having battled through his opening match for his sixth loss of the year.
I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest Andy Murray
The former world No.1 has now played seven tournaments and only won two matches.
He was beaten in round two 6-2 6-4 by the Frenchman Ugo Humbert who did not face a single break point to secure his first win over the Scot, achieved in just 91-minutes.
And as has become the norm, his possible retirement was again raised much to his irritation.
Earlier in the week he had intimated that would be ‘in a few months’ time.
Now, after his most recent setback, he said: “Yeah, I mean, I’m likely not going to play past this summer.”
“I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest. I’m not going to talk more about that between now and whenever the time comes for me to stop. But yeah, I don’t plan on playing much past this summer.”
Murray’s farewell summer is likely to see him play the French Open, Wimbledon and (he hopes, if selected) the Olympics in Paris.
In recent years the Scot has skipped the French to prepare for the grass court swing but if this is his final swan song, he would want to include Paris, where he has made the final.
“Probably, yeah,” he admitted when asked about the French.
“Last few years I’ve tried to give myself maybe better preparation for the grass season, but that also doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to play really well on the grass.
“I’ve had experiences through my career where I didn’t play the French Open in 2013 and I won Wimbledon. I also played the French Open and did really well in 2016.
“I don’t think it makes a huge difference if you get an extra week’s practice or so on the grass. So yeah, I would like to play one more time.”
Murray also said his decision to play the French Open is not just because the Olympic tennis event will be held at the same venue.
“I like the tournament. I like playing at Roland-Garros.
“I mean, obviously if you want to do well at the Olympics, you probably are going to have to play some tournaments and get matches in on the clay. Even if the Olympics was not after Wimbledon, I would still want to play it.”
As a two-time singles gold medallist, it isn’t surprising that he would want to make a final appearance at the Games!
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