THE HIPS DON'T LIE
Murray loses what could be final match despite stunning fightback in five-set thriller
The British legend looked dead and buried when he fell two sets and a break behind to Roberto Bautista Agut but somehow forced a fifth set
ANDY MURRAY may well have played the final match of his tennis career as he bowed out of the Australian Open in the first round in the only way he knows how: battling until the very end.
There were emotional scenes when the former world No1 was potentially sent into retirement as Australia bid farewell to a legend of the sport - but boy did Murray put on a show.
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His valiant 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 6-2 defeat in Melbourne to Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut could signal the end of a tremendous career.
But the scoreline, almost irrelevant today, still does not tell half the story - Murray looked dead and buried two sets and a break down but fought back with that dogged spirit we have become accustomed to over the years.
In the end, though, he did not quite have enough as the Spanish 22nd seed who played the villain by dashing the dreams of Murray and just about everyone inside the Melbourne Arena.
Teary-eyed Murray was supported by legions of Scottish fans who had travelled across the world for maybe one final glimpse of Britain’s greatest sportsman.
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The 31-year-old is quitting tennis this year due to constant pain from a troublesome hip injury, which has plagued him for the last 18 months.
His plan is to try and carry on until Wimbledon but there are fears he might even call it a day sooner given the daily agony he faces.
When he does hang up his racquet, he will be considered Britain’s greatest tennis star with his three Grand Slams titles, two Olympic gold medals, the Davis Cup triumph and, in 2016, a place on top of the world rankings.
All of that, and so much more, have cemented his legendary status in the game despite playing in an era with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
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Even the injury, which he had surgery for 12 months ago, couldn't stop him playing his part in an all-time classic match.
He huffed and he puffed, desperate to fight for every single point and came so close to defying the odds - even by Murray's standards this was something special.
It all looked to have got away from him but he forced a tie-break in the third set - buoyed on by the vocal crowd inside the Melbourne Arena - and came through it to force a fourth.
The roar from Andy. The cheer from the crowd. The glimmer of hope.
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Surely he couldn't come back from two sets down with a failing hip and win. Surely...
And then the unthinkable. Another tie-break. A chance to level the match at two sets apiece.
Murray sailed into a 5-1 lead at the changeover and clinched the fourth set when Bautista Agut netted.
But ultimately it did indeed prove a step too far. An early break in the fifth for the Spaniard got him back on track and Murray struggled to hold his serve, finally succumbing after more than four hours of brutal, gruelling tennis.
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Andy Murray breaks down in tears as he admits he plans to retire at Wimbledon 2019 because of chronic hip pain
His hip was simply not quite up to the task - despite the rush of adrenaline - and if that is indeed the end of a brilliant career, Sir Andy Murray can leave with his head hold high both for his performance today and throughout his career.
Would we have expected anything less?
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