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4 months ago
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Andy Murray has insisted that he will return to Wimbledon, maybe even next year, although not in a playing role.
Murray - who plans to retire from playing after this summer's Olympic Games in Paris - took part in what could prove to be his penultimate match at the Championships on Thursday when he and brother Jamie lost 7-6 6-4 against Australian duo John Peers and Rinky Hijikata in the first round of the men's doubles.
Two-time singles champion Murray will team up with Emma Raducanu later this week for a tough mixed doubles match against El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo and China's Zhang Shuai - each of whom have multiple Grand Slam doubles titles to their name.
Following Thursday's defeat on Centre Court, 37-year-old Murray - who underwent surgery on a spinal cyst less than a fortnight before this summer's tournament began - was the subject of an emotional farewell ceremony presented by Sue Barker.
Novak Djokovic and Laura Robson were court-side for the event, while the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Venus Williams sent messages that were played on the court's big screen, as well as being shown live on the BBC.
It was another emotional night on Wimbledon's Centre Court for Andy Murray on Thursday
The 37-year-old and his brother Jamie (left) lost 7-6 6-4 to John Peers and Rinky Hijikata
After the match, Murray was the subject of a farewell ceremony to celebrate his fine career
Murray, pictured in 2013, is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, twice at Wimbledon
Thursday's ceremony was presented by former player and broadcasting icon Sue Barker
Asked by Barker if he might return to SW19 in a non-playing role next year, Murray - who is already a mentor to multiple players - appeared to hint at a future role in coaching.
However, he made it clear that he was not overly keen to follow the likes of Tim Henman and John McEnroe into the commentary box.
Murray said: 'I'm not never going to come back here!'
On whether he was a 'good watcher' of tennis, he added: 'It depends who I'm watching. I hate watching my brother. I find it really difficult to watch my brother play. I love tennis. I watch it all the time.
'I would probably be more comfortable sitting up there in a coaching box rather than somewhere else.'
Murray tried commentating at Wimbledon in 2018, a year in which he did not enter the Championships due to injury.
He covered Nadal's five-set quarter-final victory over Juan Martin del Potro but told Barker that he did not enjoy it.
'I didn't,' he said while laughing. 'Not because of the people I did it with, it's just the match. An unbelievable match, Nadal and Del Potro, it was like four and a half hours, amazing tennis, but a long time.
'A commentary box is tiny, and it was a long time to be in there and I didn't enjoy it that much!'
Novak Djokovic, Conchita Martinez, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe (left to right) watched the ceremony from the side of the court
Multiple video messages were played into the stadium, including one from Roger Federer
Murray, who is set to retire from playing this year, almost teared up during his chat with Barker
Speaking on Thursday, Murray suggested that he could return to Wimbledon as a coach
Murray's preference would be to keep playing if he could but he has admitted that is simply no longer possible due to his stress it takes on his body.
He said: 'It is hard because I would love to keep on playing but I can't.
'Physically, it's too tough now. All of the injuries, they have added up, they have not been insignificant.
'I want to play forever, I love the sport, it has given me so much.
'It has taught me loads of lessons over the years. I don't want to stop. So yeah, it's hard.'
English (US)