The stats tell a story of steady decline. He’s yet to win a match in three tournaments this year. He’s now gone out in the first round of six of his past seven events. In his past nine matches, Murray – one of the greatest competitors in the modern history of the game – has won just one. At what point does bravely soldiering on start to damage his legacy?
Two Wimbledons, a US Open title, eight other Grand Slam finals and two Olympic gold medals make for quite the portfolio. He was also half the team that helped Dunblane – sorry, Great Britain – win the Davis Cup. As if all of that was not enough, he then won a tournament nine months after having a hip replaced, proving he can defy science as well as belief. To return to the top level of the tour in singles with a metal hip is unprecedented. It borders on the incredible to then win a title and reach two other finals.
Since losing to Daniil Medvedev in the last of those in Doha last year, however, there has been a steady downturn. He has not won more than two matches at any tour-level event since. Murray’s world ranking peaked at 36, just short of a seeding at the Slams. He’s now about to drop out of the top 50 again.
He’s entered three events in February: Marseille, Doha and Dubai. Given the level of his recent performances, he is surely now questioning whether all that time away from the family is really worth it.
Safeguarding his own mental health must surely come into play alongside preserving his reputation. If he never hits another ball, his status as a great of the game, and a legend of British sport, is already secure.
He has often compared the gladiatorial nature of tennis to boxing. The question is, how many more punches should Murray allow himself to take before hanging up the gloves on a glittering career?
2024-01-30 16:26:23
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