“He’s writing cheques that you only hope his body can cash.”
Andre Agassi uttered those words way back in 2005.
No, he was not referring to Andy Murray, who lost a five-set epic against Roberto Bautista Agut in the Australian Open first round, he was talking about a 19-year-old Rafael Nadal.
Agassi said how, in the opening salvos of the Spaniard’s career, he had already raised the bar in terms of physicality in tennis.
However, he issued a warning to the then-teenage sensation.
The eight-time slam winner said Nadal’s style of play – playing every point like it was his last and all that wear and tear to his body in doing that – could shorten his career.
A remarkable 14 years later, and Nadal, 32, is at number two in the world, just as he was back in 2005; but with 17 slams to his name.
The aforementioned words from Agassi now appear to be more apt for Murray.
The 31-year-old put in a heroic and battling performance in around four hours against Agut, in what could be his last ever match.
To retire from the sport at this age in years gone by would have been seen as a long career. These days, however, many play into their mid-30s and even beyond.
Injury is an unfortunate part of sport, but what accelerated this injury nightmare that Murray has not been able to wake up from?
Arguably his greatest triumph, reaching number one after his herculean run in 2016, led to his ultimate downfall.
A 90 per cent winrate. A total of 78 wins to just nine losses. He won nine titles, three of which were at Masters 1000 level, another included his first World Tour Finals triumph and Wimbledon to boot.
It was an outstanding season for Murray and his remarkable run to number one was made all the more astonishing as his great rival, Novak Djokovic, had obliterated the competition in the first half of 2016.
But how much did that exhausting, grinding and attritional run take out of him?
Was it myopic of him to play so much tennis in 2016 and at the start of 2017?
His relentless march to the number one ranking involved him winning five, long and battling tournaments in a row at the end of the season.
When he had done the impossible, was Murray a bit short-sighted with his scheduling?
Andy Murray has had a magnificent career. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP)
He decided to launch into another arduous pre-season training block and chose to play in Qatar at the very start of 2017, instead of giving him the vital rest and recuperation time he needed.
What’s more, Murray is 6’3 and has been described as a ‘tank’ due to his muscle mass.
The likes of grand slam winners Boris Becker, Gustavo Kuerten and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, all 6’3, moved liked trees compared to Murray.
Murray can run down a ball better than nearly anyone and, for someone of his height and build, that is not normal.
In the history of the sport, few players of his size have successfully utilised, let alone attempted, a muscular, counter-punching style as he has.
That combination of factors has, regrettably, ended up pummelling his hip. He has endured a good 18 months of pain and neither physio nor an operation looks to have remedied that.
His ultra-physical, pounding style of play is an approach that has brought him so much success throughout his career, but that is likely to have caused the hip problem that is soon to end it.
So, was it all worth it? Was that relentless charge to number one and to try and finally win an Australian Open title his undoing?
Only he can know that. He has had a magnificent career.
Three grand slams, 41 weeks at number one and two Olympic Golds, among other achievements, is a record to be proud of.
But could it have been a lot more? If he had taken more time off could he still be winning slams like Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are at the ages of 37, 32 and 31 respectively?
We will never know. One thing we do know, however, is that Murray has carved out a fantastic career of his own, regardless of whether he retires from the sport now or in the summer at Wimbledon.
But it would be nice for him to have one last hurrah at Wimbledon, don’t you think?
joyce cattanach
Guest
What do you mean "poor demeanour" ? Andy Murray is the funniest person on the tour, according to all the other players.
anon
Roar Pro
Federer has been extraordinarily lucky with injuries. Sampras played a style that was no more punishing than Federer's, but was carrying a significant back problem at 30 and was gone by 32. Federer's nearly 38.
anon
Roar Pro
No disrespect to Murray, but he reached number one on the back of Djokovic form slump/injuries/new age coach/going vegan, Federer out for 6 months, Nadal out for most of 2016. I admire what he achieved, but never liked his poor demeanour on the court and style of tennis (basically a pusher).
Larry1950
Guest
Murray is just one of a multitude of sportspeople who punish their bodies relentlessly in pursuit of that dream. I'm sure there are thousands of footballers, netballers etc who suffer chronic arthritis or have replacement joints who wonder about their wisdom in hindsight but that's what separates them from we mere mortals who never had the talent or drive to go there. Most pundits laud Murray's approach over the Krygios style so maybe we've got it wrong, possibly Nic has it right & pulls the plug when it gets too hard.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The thing that shortened Murray's career is a person by the name of Roger Federer. Out of all the top players he's the one who owns a game that is able to play at that level while having less impact on his body. He took tennis to another level that few have been able to match, but those few that have got up there have got there by pushing their level of play to an absolute maximum which then punishes their bodies pretty badly. (I can't see Nadal or Djokovic able to continue to the age Roger has been able to either!) The fact is, Murray could have had a long career being that #4 in the world, regularly making semi's of Grand Slams and such, but never actually breaking through, or he could push his body to the absolute limit to get to the level of those guys above him for a shot time before it broke down. He chose the latter. I'm sure when he chose it he didn't expect the result was going to be severe chronic pain, and I really do hope that there is a remedy for that so he's not forced to live in that pain for the rest of his life, even if it involves not playing tennis any more.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great article Richard, Absolutely agree that it shortened Murray's career, but I guess, at the same time, that 2016/early 2017 run was what defined him. I never loved watching Murray play, but you have to respect what he has been able to do for the sport and game. In another era, he might have been a lot more successful, but it's tough when you run into a trio of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal over and over again. I think there are lessons to be learnt for the next generation though. Someone like De Minaur. He plays such a physical brand of tennis and needs to be careful he doesn't end up in the same boat. Playing tournaments like Sydney a week before grand slams need to be the first to go.
Sallie MIlsom
Guest
How disrespectful this Tomic is? He says the best Australian players won't play for Australia in the Davis Cup......is he referring to himself? If so he is deluded, knocked out of The Open on Day 1 , speaks for itself really. All you ever see from this guy is whingeing or showing off about his possessions. Sounds to me like sour grapes, didn't Leyton think he made the cut?