Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray on Wednesday said that he is likely to retire from tennis before the season is over.
“I’m likely not going to play past this summer,” 36-year-old Murray said after losing 6-2, 6-4 to fifth seed Ugo Humbert at the Dubai Championships.
After rallying past Denis Shapovalov in three sets on Monday for his 500th hard-court win, Murray hinted he was heading into the “last few months” of his career.
Photo: Reuters
He expanded a bit on those plans after losing to Humbert, although he stopped short of setting a firm timeline.
“I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest,” Murray said. “I’m not going to talk more about that between now and whenever the time comes for me to stop, but, yes, I don’t plan on playing much past this summer.”
Humbert did not face a break point before converting his first match point to reach the quarter-finals and secure his first career win over Murray, who lifted the trophy in Dubai in 2017.
Murray, the 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion, earlier on Wednesday told BBC Radio that he wants to play at the Paris Olympic Games, which run from July 26 to Aug. 11.
“Hopefully, I can get the chance to compete at another [Olympics],” said Murray, who also won the US Open in 2012.
Top seed Daniil Medvedev recovered from a set down to overcome Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
Medvedev opened his title defense on Tuesday by beating Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 7-5 in his first match since losing the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner.
Medvedev next faces eighth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced after Jakub Mensik retired with an injury. Davidovich Fokina led 7-6 (7), 1-0 when Mensik pulled out.
Jiri Lehecka saved five match points before rallying to beat fourth seed Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and Sebastian Korda cruised past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 6-0.
Lehecka next faces seventh seed Alexander Bublik, who progressed with a 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (7/2) win over Tallon Griekspoor.
Korda is to play second seed Andrey Rublev, the 2022 champion. Rublev advanced to the quarter-finals for the fifth straight time after eliminating Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4.
Third seed Hubert Hurkacz advanced with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 win over Christopher O’Connell, and he gets Humbert next.
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