Hip is so sore that I even hate walking the dogs, says Andy Murray

Andy Murray now faces a heart-wrenching dilemma -- having to decide whether to battle through the pain for an emotional farewell at Wimbledon or undergo another major surgery.

Britain's Andy Murray looks dejected after losing the match against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

Andy Murray announced last week that this could be his final Australian Open. (Source: Reuters)

Andy Murray opened up about the pain caused by the battered right hip which prevents him from doing basic things such as walking the dogs or playing football with friends. The Briton disclosed after losing an epic Australian Open five-setter against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday night in Melbourne. The Scot fought to the bitter end in what may be his final match before losing the four-hour thriller.

He now faces a heart-wrenching dilemma — having to decide over the next week whether to battle and play through the pain for an emotional farewell at Wimbledon or undergo another major surgery knowing it may mean he can never play again.

“Just now, like, going to walk my dogs, playing football with my friends, is like the worst thing I can think of doing,” he revealed. “I hate it because it’s so sore and it’s uncomfortable.”

Murray said he would talk to his team, his surgeon John O’Donnell and other players who have had similar operations, such as doubles great Bob Bryan, before making the final call.

“I mean, I’ll probably decide in the next week or so. But that’s what I was saying the other day, that this might be my last match,” the 31-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion told a news conference in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“If I go ahead with the operation and I don’t recover well from it, then I don’t play again,” added the Scot who has won two Wimbledons, a US Open, the Davis Cup and two Olympic golds in his storied career. “I’m aware of that. That is the decision that I have to make. It will improve my quality of life, I’ll be in less pain doing just, you know, normal things like walking around and putting your shoes and socks on and things.

“I just don’t really know yet. But, you know, if today was my last match, look, it was a brilliant way to finish, as well. That’s something that I’ll probably take into consideration.

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“It was an amazing atmosphere. I literally gave everything that I had on the court, fought as best as I could, and performed a lot better than what I should have done without the amount I’ve been able to practise and train.

“I’d be okay with that being my last match.” Murray added with a touch of poignancy that he would harbour some regrets if he was forced away from the game he loves.

“I practised hard. I trained hard, probably too hard at certain stages in my career,” he said.

“That was something that I would change and do differently if I could go back,” added Murray, despite achievements such as becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years.

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“Like some people have said the last few days, I got everything out of my game and stuff. But I feel like I should have done better, you know, I could have done things differently.

“There’s matches here, for example, that I would love to play again, have another opportunity to do that,” Murray said, referring to his record of reaching the Melbourne final five times but never lifting the trophy.

“But I have tried my best.”