Britain’s Andy Murray reacts as he loses a point to Sam Querrey of the United States during their Men’s Singles Quarterfinal Match on day nine at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Wednesday, July 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Andy Murray refused to blame his long-standing hip problem for his five-set defeat to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon on Wednesday, but admitted taking a break was not out of the question.
The defending champion and world number one slumped to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-1 quarter-final defeat to the 28th-ranked American on a shellshocked Centre Court.
Murray had arrived at the All England Club feeling the effects of his right hip problem.
The toll of playing five matches caught up with him as he limped to just his second loss in eight meetings with the giant American.
“I’m not going to go into all the details of exactly what my hip issues are,” said 30-year-old Murray.
“The whole tournament I’ve been a little bit sore but I’ve been dealing with it for a very long time during my career.
“Obviously as you get older, things are a little bit tougher to manage than they are when you’re younger. There’s a bit more wear and tear there.”
Murray, who said he chose not to call the trainer onto court as “there was nothing much he could do” insisted there were no long-term risks to him playing the quarter-final.
“I knew I wasn’t going to do any major damage by playing. So obviously wanted to try if possible to find a way at the end,” he said.
Ironically, Murray, who was bidding to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the eighth time, could have wrapped up the quarter-final in straight sets.
After cruising through the opening set he was a break up at 4-3 in the second before his afternoon dramatically unravelled, his movement and power seriously compromised.
“It wasn’t like I was a million miles away from winning the match. Obviously the end was a bit of a struggle,” added Murray.
“I almost found a way to get into the semis. I wasn’t that far away from doing that.”
With the American hard-court season approaching and the US Open starting in just over six weeks’ time, Murray said he will seek out the best advice over his injury and schedule.
Those discussions will start immediately and he admitted a break from the sport could be one solution to his problems.
“I’ll get the best advice I can, then stick with that. If it means taking a few weeks’ rest, then so be it,” explained Murray.
“If it means training and doing the right rehab and stuff, then I’ll do that.”
Murray could lose his world number one ranking if Novak Djokovic goes on to claim a fourth Wimbledon title on Sunday.
He admitted that losing top spot wouldn’t be a surprise as his form has fallen below his high standards this year.
Murray was a shock fourth round loser at the Australian Open before an encouraging run to the last-four at Roland Garros.
He has won just one title in 2017, in Dubai, and made one other final, losing to Djokovic in Qatar in January.
“I’m sure moving forward I’ll be able to get through it (the hip problem). I just need to do all of the right things and be even more diligent and professional than I have been recently,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve done all of the right stuff, but I’ll try to do more, try to get myself in better shape.
“Hopefully I’ll come through the other side of it a better player, a better athlete.”