Murray starts 2024 season with first-round defeat in Brisbane

Andy Murray suffered a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat to second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday, starting what could be his final season on a sour note.

The three-time Grand Slam champion told the BBC before the match – his first singles match since October – that he would probably retire if he “doesn't enjoy” tennis this season, having won just two matches in his last five events. last year while dealing with shoulder and knee injuries, as well as illness.

Murray won a tight first set that saw both players hold serve for the first nine games of the match until an error-strewn service game from Dimitrov allowed the Briton to take the lead.

However, Dimitrov regained control late in the second set, breaking Murray twice to take a 7-5 lead. The final set was easier for Dimitrov as he broke Murray twice in the first three games and raced to victory.

The result ends any chance that Murray, ranked 42nd in the world, will be seeded for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on January 14.

Murray won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2012 before becoming the first Briton since Fred Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon when he lifted the trophy in 2013. He won the men's singles championship again from Wimbledon in 2016. He also has two Olympic gold medals in men's singles.