Andy Murray issues angry and defiant response after story claims he is damaging his legacy

Andy Murray has endured a miserable few months that have led to plenty of calls for him to end his incredible playing career, yet the Scot has hit back at those comments in an honest and defiant message on X.

The two-time Wimbledon winner, 36, was dumped out of the first round in both the Brisbane International and Australian Open and remains winless in 2024 following his third defeat of the new year.

Murray let slip a one-set lead against Benoit Paire to lose 6-2 6-7 3-6 in his opening match of the Open Sud de France and has not won a competitive match since his victory over Yannick Hanfmann in Basel in October 2023.

After the match, some questioned whether it was time for Murray to bring his playing career to a close, but the Scot has pledged to keep on fighting.

Responding to a story on the BBC website suggesting his horrible form in what may be the final chapter of his career is tarnishing his legacy, the two-time Wimbledon champion didn’t hold back with his repost.

Murray responded to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by saying: “Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour. I’m in a terrible moment right now I’ll give you that.

“Most people would quit and give up in my situation right now. But I’m not most people and my mind works differently.

“I won’t quit. I will keep fighting and working to produce the performances I know I’m capable of.”

Former world No 1 Andy Roddick was quick to back up Murray’s comments with this response on X:

Preach! Imagine telling an accomplished iconic adult your opinion on what they should choose for work and when they should do it …. This is such a dumb, thirsty article. Can’t take a legacy away. Accomplishment lives forever

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 30, 2024

There was also a message from respected former American player James Blake who said on X: “Absurd for anyone to tell him what to do. He’s earned the right to do it however he sees fit.

“One reason I love our sport is it’s made of all individuals. Everyone’s journey is different. And it’s what they see as the best option. Let’s just be happy for Andy.”

Murray’s comments come after respected commentator Jonathan Overend told Tennis365 that Murray should not be told the time has come for him to quit tennis, as the lead Sky Sports commentator told us the Scot has earned the right to decide when his career comes to an end.

READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios reminded us what a co-commentator should do at the Australian Open

Speaking to this website on the day Sky Sports announced the launch of the first-ever exclusive tennis channel for the UK and Ireland, the respected commentator insisted Murray does not need to be asked retirement questions he will inevitably be pondering himself.

“You look at it from the outside and feel one thing and then you try to put yourself in his shoes and you can understand why he keeps going,” Overend told Tennis365, as he prepares to lead the commentary team on the new Sky Sports Tennis channel.

“This is his life, this is his passion. All he wants to do is play tennis and compete and no one should tell him to pack the rackets away and call it a day.

“He’ll know as well as anyone when the time is right to end it. He’s going through it and doesn’t need us to tell him it’s not going as well as it could to.

“The second half of last year was tough for all of us to watch and he keeps having these early defeats, but I don’t see him changing his mindset.

“He decided to go through the pre-season programme again, got himself out to Australia and clearly still believes he can compete at the highest level.

“Deciding on what comes next at the end of the year would seem logical, but how much more misery can he take if he keeps losing in the first round of tournaments?

“He’s said he doesn’t want an open-top bus parade to end his career as that is not his style.

“Only he will know when the time is right and I think it is likely to hit him at some point and he wakes up and thinks that’s me done.

“I’m not going to make any judgement on when Andy Murray should retire as he has more than earned the right to go out on his own terms.

“If he wants to play a full season and that involves a lot of early round defeats, then that’s his prerogative. He’s still playing tennis, doing what he loves to do and I’m sure he will give us lots of entertainment on Sky Sports along the way this year.”