Andy Murray at Wimbledon 2019: Tennis star determined to retire after SW19 Championships

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Tom Dutton14 January 2019

Andy Murray is determined to bow out after Wimbledon but believes his body may force him to call time on his playing career before July's Championships.

Murray, who ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's Wimbledon champion in 2013, has announced his intention to retire from tennis in 2019, though how deep he will play into the calendar year is uncertain.

For nearly two years the Scot has been struggling with what he called a “severely damaged right hip” which has caused him discomfort while completing simple, day-to-day tasks like tying his shoe laces.

Murray struggled through a practice match against Novak Djokovic on Thursday and has been drawn to face No22 seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open, which begins on Monday.

"I'm going to play [at the Australian Open]," Murray said. "I can still play to a level. Not a level that I'm happy playing at. But it's not just that. The pain is too much really and I don't want to continue playing that way.

"During my training block [in Miami last month] I spoke to my team and told them I can't keep doing this. I needed to have an end point because I was sort of playing with no idea when the pain was going to stop.

The 31-year-old has reached three Wimbledon finals, winning two, and said after beating Novak Djokovic to clinch his first Slam on grass: "That last game will be the toughest game I'll play in my career, ever."

His love affair with the lawns of SW19 cannot be understated and Murray, who also won Olympic gold at the All England Club in 2012, is keen to bid a fitting farewell to the game at the scene of his greatest triumph.

He said: "I said to my team, look I think I can get through this until Wimbledon. That's where I'd like to stop playing. But I'm also not certain I'm able to do that."

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