Andy Murray wants to play in Olympic Games before retirement

Archive: Murray beats Federer to win London 2012 gold

By Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport

Britain's Andy Murray says he is not planning to "play much past this summer" but hopes to compete at another Olympic Games before he retires.

The future of the three-time Grand Slam champion, who turns 37 in May, has come under increased scrutiny after he has struggled for wins in recent months.

Murray lost to France's Ugo Humbert in the Dubai second round on Wednesday.

Before the 6-2 6-4 defeat, the Scot said he hoped to play at the Paris Olympics in the summer.

Afterwards, when asked again about his retirement plans, the former world number one gave his most definite answer yet.

"I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play," added Murray.

"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 I don't plan on playing much past this summer."

Wimbledon, which runs from 1-14 July, marks the end of the British grass-court summer and the Olympics start in Paris on 24 July.

The US Open is the final Grand Slam tournament of the season and starts on 26 August in New York.

Murray eyeing Paris double before retirement

Murray won gold in the men's singles at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wants another shot at Olympic glory in Paris.

Murray ranks his gold medal from London 2012, when he defeated Roger Federer in the final, as the top achievement in his career.

"Hopefully I can get the chance to compete at another one," said Murray, who is ranked 67th in the world.

Direct entry into the Olympic men's singles is given to the top 56 of the ATP rankings on 10 June, although Murray could be placed outside and still qualify because of withdrawals.

He could also be given a spot as a former Olympic champion and Grand Slam winner.

Murray also indicated he plans to return to the French Open this year for what would likely be the final time.

Since returning from hip resurfacing surgery in 2019, which he thought would end his career, Murray has only played once on the Roland Garros clay, losing in the 2020 first round to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka.

The clay-court tournament, which is the second major of the season, starts on 26 May.

On how he might bow out, Murray added: "There's no right way of finishing your career and everyone is different so what might be the right way for Federer might not be the right way for [Rafael] Nadal, might not be the right way for [Novak] Djokovic."

'Awful feeling' as Murray loses again

Reuters

Murray earned his 500th career hard-court win in the Dubai first round, joining Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal in reaching the milestone

Murray won his first Grand Slam title at the 2012 US Open, ending Britain's 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men's singles champion in 2013 and adding a second victory at the All England Club in 2016.

Murray is also a five-time Australian Open runner-up, as well as a French Open finalist in 2016.

A frustrating start to the 2024 season, where Murray has now won just two of eight matches, has led to further questions about when he might decide to retire.

After losing his opening four matches of the year, the Scot said he was in a "terrible moment" but added he "won't quit".

Murray ended a run of six straight defeats by beating France's Alexandre Muller in Doha and claimed another win in Dubai on Monday against Canada's Denis Shapovalov.

But the 2017 champion was unable to trouble in-form Humbert, whose sharp attacking shots were too much for Murray's defence.

Murray was broken twice in the first set and, after losing serve again early in the second, his annoyance was clear on court.

"I don't have a clue what I'm doing. Awful feeling," shouted Murray, who did not earn a single break point.

The Scot continued to struggle in the returning games - winning just seven receiving points throughout the match - as recent Marseille champion Humbert served out to secure a straight-set win.

Related topics