Andy Murray is putting away his racket. In an emotional press conference ahead of the 2019 Australian Open, the 31-year-old British tennis player announced that his hip “is not great” and he plans on retiring after Wimbledon this year.
Despite being in serious pain, Andy will play in the Australian Open this week, although he expressed fear over not being able to make it to Wimbledon this Summer due to the injury.
“I’m not sure I can play through the pain for another four or five months,” he said tearfully. “I can play with limitations. But having the limitations and the pain is not allowing me to enjoy competing or training. ” He said that after “20 months” of feeling like this, “I don’t want to continue playing that way. ”
He’s a three-time Grand Slam champion and the former No. 1 player in the world (2016), and Andy’s impact is absolutely felt in the sports world.
Billie Jean King said it best after his press conference: “You are a champion on and off the court. So sorry you cannot retire on your own terms, but remember to look to the future. Your greatest impact on the world may be yet to come. Your voice for equality will inspire future generations,” she wrote on Twitter, mentioning Andy’s role as an advocate for gender equality.
Watch his emotional video ahead, and see how fans are reacting to the news about Andy’s retirement, including fellow tennis players.
