‘The worst thing I can think of doing’: Andy Murray says he struggles to walk his dogs due to hip pain as Scot insists he’d be OK if Australian Open first round loss is his final time on court
- Andy Murray has been knocked out of the Australian Open in the first round
- The Scot was beaten in a five-set thriller by Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut
- Murray admitted that the pain in his hip prevents him doing everyday tasks
- He says that playing football or even walking his dogs is out of the question
Andy Murray has revealed the true extent of his hip problem following his first round defeat at the Australian Open – confiding it is so severe it prevents him from walking his dogs.
The former British number one was denied the most unlikeliest of victories against 22nd seed Roberto Bautista-Agut after he battled back from two sets down, before eventually succumbing 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(4), 6-2.
Murray spoke on court afterwards and suggested to the crowd that they may not have seen the last of him, insisting he ‘will do everything’ in a bid to regain some kind of fitness.
Andy Murray has revealed the pain in his hip stops him from doing day-to-day tasks
The Scot said actions such as walking his dogs are out of the question such is the discomfort
There were moments during the gruelling encounter where fans were treated to glimpses of the old Murray, bounding around the court, saving points that looked well and truly lost.
However, the fifth set proved a bridge to far for the Dunblane-born star, and after the adrenaline of the Melbourne Arena wore off, he was met with the reality of the difficult choice he faces.
‘I have basically two options. One is to take the next four and a half months off, then build up to play Wimbledon,’ he said.
‘Tonight was not comfortable in terms of my hip. At the end, I’m really struggling. I can’t walk properly at all just now.
‘I could play another match, but if I want to try to play again, I want to improve my quality of life, because even if I take four months, I still can’t walk.
‘I’m still in pain doing just basic day-to-day things. But having an operation like that, there’s absolutely no guarantees I’d be able to play again. I’m fully aware of that. It’s a really big operation. There’s no guarantees that you can come back from that.
Murray produced glimpses of the star of old, as he fought back from two sets down on Monday
However, the evening ultimately ended in disappointment as lost the five-set thriller
‘Just now, going to walk my dogs, playing football with my friends, is the worst thing I can think of doing.
‘I hate it because it’s so sore and it’s uncomfortable. Waiting another five or six months to do something like that is just another period of where I’m really uncomfortable.’
Despite the discomfort, Murray was still able to put on a display that had the crowd on their feet for large swathes of the contest.
Murray told the crowd he will do ‘everything’ in an attempt to come back and play once more
It was a throwback to the tense marathons that the 31-year-old used to put his supporters through, and he admits if it is to be the end, it’s a fitting way to bow out.
‘If today was my last match it was a brilliant way to finish, as well,’ he added. ‘That’s something that I’ll probably take into consideration, as well.
‘It was an amazing atmosphere. I literally gave everything that I had on the court, fought as best as I could, and performed a lot better than what I should have done without the amount I’ve been able to practice and train.
‘I’d be okay with that being my last match.’
The 31-year-old did admit that he would be OK if the defeat was his final appearance on court