In the early hours of this morning, Andy Murray was dumped out of the Australian Open in the first round.
Although few expected much from the ageing Great British tennis player, he was eventually defeated with a whimper, losing 4-6, 2-6, 2-6 to Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
The 36-year-old has since been left questioning his future in this competition and the sport as a whole, admitting he was aware this might have been his last feature in the tournament where he has finished as a runner-up five times.
But, what disappointed Sky Sports’ Barry Cowan most about the veteran’s display? We take a closer look…
What did Barry Cowan say about Andy Murray?
Well, speaking live on TalkSPORT (15/1 9:21 am), and the co-commentator was rather cutthroat in his assessment of the three-time Grand Slam champion, as were many other pundits.
After all, he expects much from the talismanic figure who has given so much to the sport.
Speaking freely, Cowan would suggest: ‘He certainly has been an incredible servant to the sport. What he’s achieved with the Wimbledon titles and the Olympic titles but the harsh reality is this wasn’t a surprise that he lost.
‘I didn’t think he’d win, where I am surprised actually is that he lost as easily as he did.
‘And he just seemed like something wasn’t willing really there today to be able to make it competitive.
‘The decision he’s got to make and only he can make is the tough yards he’s going to have to do to put himself in a position to be competitive at Wimbledon.“2017 was the last time he won more than two matches in a major.
‘As we know, the first thing that’s got to happen in professional sport is you’ve got to believe.
‘It’s not up for any of us to decide whether he can believe or can’t believe, but the harsh realities are he’s a long way off from those top guys and if he’s still got designs on reaching the second week of majors, history will tell you the past seven years that that’s looking very unlikely.
‘He just can’t seem to build up any momentum. He lost the first round in Brisbane and lost the first round here in Australia.’
Andy Murray’s retirement looms
With a chucklesome video passed around social media detailing the 2019 video made by the Australian Open to congratulate Murray’s retirement, today he played like someone who had seldom played since then.
Although his injury troubles have been worse than most, with his metal hip rendering him a shadow of the player he once was, a top-quality technician remains even if his athleticism often fails him.
However, he cannot move nearly as freely as he used to, rendering his usual game somewhat redundant.
If he cannot chase every loose ball and relentlessly force every point, then that touted retirement may be much sooner than many realise.
His admittance that this may have been his last Australian Open is a damning indictment of the mindset of the Scotsman, who has defied all the odds to come back from the many setbacks faced.
Although now he is looking weathered, and today he played a tired and unmotivated match.
Should he post many more performances like that, it will surely not be long before he calls time on a sparkling career that has captured the hearts of most.
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