Andy Murray's furious response amid claims tennis great is 'damaging his legacy'

Tennis great Andy Murray has slammed suggestions his tennis decline is damaging his legacy as he struggles to find form to start 2024. The 36-year-old for around a decade was considered as one of the 'Big Four' alongside legends of the sport Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nada and Roger Federer.

But Murray hasn't won a grand slam in more than seven years and has not made a grand slam final since then either. After bowing out of the Australian Open in the first round in a lacklustre display against Tomas Etcheverry, Murray admitted it was possibly his last appearance at Melbourne Park.

NOT GOOD: Alex de Minaur's sad blow as girlfriend reaches career high

PRETTY SAD: Bernard Tomic reality exposed in eye-opening photo

"There's a definite possibility that will be the last time I play here," Murray said during his post-match press conference. Following the Australian Open, Murray then returned to the tennis court to face Benoit Paire at the Open Sud de France, where he again lost in the first round.

The loss to Paire means Murray is 0-3 to start the year, as speculation grows about when he may retire. His recent struggles led to BBC Scotland's Kheredine Idessane writing that by "soldiering on" Murray is just hurting his legacy.

"He's yet to win a match in three tournaments this year," wrote BBC Scotland's Kheredine Idessane. "He's now gone out in the first round of six of his past seven events. In his past nine matches, Murray - one of the greatest competitors in the modern history of the game - has won just one. At what point does bravely soldiering on start to damage his legacy?"

That article caught the attention of Murray, who angrily responded on X saying that it's his decision to make on when to retire before defiantly stating he won't be pressured into making the call. "Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour," Murray wrote on social media.

"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."

Australian Open defeat could be the last for Andy Murray

The five-time Australian Open runner-up conceded that his first-round defeat at the Australian Open may be the last time he ever plays at Melbourne Park. "It's a definite possibility that will be the last time I play here," Murray said post-match.

"And yeah, I think probably because of how the match went and everything. I don't know. Whilst you're playing the match, you're obviously trying to control your emotions and focus on the points and everything.

"When you're one point away from the end, you're like, 'I can't believe this is over so quickly, and like this.' In comparison to the matches that I played here last year, it's the complete opposite feeling walking off the court. Yeah, tough, tough way to finish."

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.