Rio Ferdinand warns Andy Murray his tennis dream may be over

Football legend Rio Ferdinand has admitted he is struggling to understand why Andy Murray is still continuing his battle against the odds to clamber back to the top of tennis.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray is preparing to play in the Australian Open for the 16th time – a tournament where he has been runner-up on five occasions.

Yet Murray admitted his days of reaching the latter stages of Grand Slam events may be over after he suffered early exits at all four major tournaments in 2023.

“Maybe I need to accept that at these events, the deep runs and everything that I felt like I’m capable of, they might not be there, as well,” the former world No 1 recalled last September.

“I’m aware of what I’m doing, it’s unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now. And some days it’s harder than others.

“I still enjoy everything that goes into playing at a high level. I enjoy the work. The training and trying to improve and trying to get better, I do still enjoy that. And that’s what keeps me going.

“If things change and I stop enjoying that or my results, my ranking and everything; like, if I start to go backwards in that respect and I was ranked 60 in a few months time instead of moving up, things might change.”

Despite those honest comments, Murray has gone through another gruelling pre-season schedule in an effort to get himself ready to perform at the Australian Open, with serial winner Ferdinand seeing similarities with his own career, as he fought against injury issues in a bid to extend his career.

“He’s got to leave it now,” declared former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand, speaking in his role as a TNT Sports football ahead of Eurosport and discovery+’s live coverage of the Australian Open.

“I’ve been there. Those injuries don’t go away, they keep getting worse and keep coming back.

“I’m done with hearing Andy Murray is still trying. What is he trying for? He ain’t got nothing else to prove.

“Murray is an absolute great. He was a warrior of the sport, winning Wimbledon twice. He was tops.

“When you think he was fighting against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He was amazing to win against those guys. ”

Ferdinand went on to admit the challenge of winning on a tennis court is very different to the battle he faced to reach the top in football.

Ferdinand won the Champions League and six Premier League titles during a glorious career at Manchester United, but he admitted the idea of winning in a sport when you are not part of a team environment is hard to comprehend, as he recalled a memorable trip to Las Vegas to watch boxer Ricky Hatton win a big fight.

“Being on your own makes you fully accountable for every single outcome,” he added.

“You do well, you draw, you are indifferent, you win… whatever it is, it’s down to you.

“It’s not just the players in tennis because they have the team and the coaching staff around them, but it is tough out there on your own.

“I was there with Ricky Hatton and he defended his title and he was out with us. He won it on his own. We had nothing to do with that.

“He had some of his coaches there and his team, but it is a bit strange when you win on your own. The best feeling is winning and looking around at your team-mates. When you are on your own, it must feel very different.”