Andy Murray recorded an incredibly successful career, considering the era he found himself in.
Despite having to battle past at least one of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic en route to every title, the Briton managed to clinch 46 tour-level crowns.
Three of those titles came at Grand Slams, with Murray claiming two Wimbledon championships in 2013 and 2016, as well as the US Open in 2012.
In addition to success at majors, he secured two gold medals and claimed world number one status in 2016.
Though he managed to achieve a lot during his playing days, Murray could have tallied a much higher Grand Slam tally, particularly at the Australian Open, where he picked up an unwanted record he still holds today.
Andy Murray’s unfortunate record at the Australian Open
Murray holds the record for the most major finals reached at a tournament without winning it, having suffered five near misses in Melbourne, four of which came against the same player.
He first advanced to the championship match at the Australian Open in 2010, where he came up against Federer.
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Murray suffered a straight-sets defeat to the Swiss Maestro, but returned to the title bout in 2011, when he would endure the first of four final losses to Djokovic.
Djokovic beat him 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 that year, in what would be the beginning of the Serb’s breakthrough season on the ATP Tour.
In 2012, Murray exited the tournament in the semifinals following a brutal five-setter against Djokovic, and lost to him again in the 2013 final.
The British legend lost to Federer in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2014, his worst finish at the event since 2009.
He bounced back the year after, however, and made back-to-back finals in 2015 and 2016, but was beaten by Djokovic both times, yet again.
Andy Murray’s reaction to losing his fifth Australian Open final
Despite hitting his prime in 2016, Murray’s Australian Open final against Djokovic that year ended in a straight-sets defeat.
He lost 6-1, 7-5, 7-6, in what would mark his last visit to the final at the competition, before injuries derailed his career.
When asked in a press conference after the match if he felt he was getting closer to Djokovic’s level, Murray said: “I mean, I don’t know how far off I was tonight. The first set, you know, I wasn’t there, but the second and third sets I do think were very close.
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“I do think I could have played a bit better, as I said. I didn’t think I hit my forehand as well as I could have.
“When I did it in the third set, that helped me out a lot. I was able to get myself into the net more. I was able to play more offensive tennis then.
“I mean, most of the matches we played in slams, I think, have been competitive. Whether that looks the same from the outside or not, I don’t know. For a three-set match, 2 hours and 50 minutes, it was a tough few sets.”
Murray’s head-to-head record with Djokovic finished 25-11 in favour of the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
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