Murray doesn’t have “a time frame” for retirement, feels his body “is responding well” at the moment

Asked about an eventual date for the end of his career, 35-year-old Andy Murray refused to put a timeline on the same and said his body has been responding well to playing matche

Andy Murray, 2022 | © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Cédric Rouquette

September 1, 2022

Andy Murray confirmed he had no retirement plans at the moment after he reached the third round at the US Open for the first time since 2016. Asked if he had a timeline, with 2024 being quoted as an option, the Brit said that he “will make the decision when (he’s) ready”.

“I think there is lots of things that go into that decision and some of it is obviously my body”, said Murray, during a press conference on Wednesday, after beating Emilio Nava in four sets in the second round of the US Open.

Murray: “I will make the decision when I’m ready“

“Some of it will be my family, motivation, how well I’m playing. I don’t think there is one thing that will go into that. At times this year, I have not felt amazing in terms of where my game has been at. Other times I have shown myself that I can still compete with the best players. I don’t know when that time will come, and I’m not setting a date or a time frame on that. I will make the decision when I’m ready”.

“Not that easy for guys to hit winners past me“

“My movement around the court is good right now. I feel like it’s not that easy for guys to hit winners past me and I’m defending in the corners much better than I was 12 months ago here. I’m not having to worry about the next day waking up with something that is going to really impact me or hamper my tennis”.

Before a match-up against Matteo Berrettini in the third round, the Brit took stock of how far he has come in recent months.

“When I played the match with Nishioka in 2020 here (five sets win 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4), I didn’t recover from that match. It took me months. My groin and lower back flared up badly, and it took a really long time to get on top of that and get better. I don’t have any of those worries or concerns now. Being able to compete consistently, barring the little sort of setback in the final in Stuttgart, has been good”.

This year, Murray celebrates the 10th anniversary of his only win at the US Open, which was also the first of his three Grand Slam titles. Just how close he will get to do that again needs to be seen over this fortnight.