Britain's Andy Murray has said he may never again play at the Australian Open after suffering a 4-6, 2-6, 2-6 straight-sets defeat to Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round on Monday.
The 36-year-old appeared emotional at the end of the match and when asked if it was a farewell to Melbourne, he said: "Yeah, it's a definite possibility that will be the last time I play here. And yeah, I think probably because of how the match went and everything.
"Whilst you're playing the match, you're obviously trying to control your emotions, focus on the points and everything. When you're one point away from the end, you're like, I can't believe this is over so quickly, and like this."
He added: "In comparison to the matches that I played here last year, it's the complete opposite feeling walking off the court. Yeah, wish I involved the crowd more. Just disappointed with the way I played and all of that stuff, so... a tough, tough way to finish."
Murray last went out in the opening round in Melbourne in 2019, when he expressed doubts about his future in the sport before going on to resurrect his career after having hip-resurfacing surgery. At a warm up event in Brisbane earlier this month, he said he would likely retire if he is "not enjoying" tennis this season, having won just two matches in his final five events last year as he struggled with shoulder and knee injuries, as well as an illness.
The former Britain No.1 pushed Etcheverry deep in an hour-long first set but the errors piled up for Murray with the Argentine comfortably taking the second set before breaking down Murray's defiance in the third to seal progress into the second-round.
Murray, who has reached the Australian Open final on five occasions, has suffered further injuries in the past year and the Scot appeared to be clutching his hip and thigh towards the end of the game.
Monday's defeats means Murray has suffered first-round defeats in back-to-back events following a defeat to Grigor Dimitrov at the Brisbane International on Jan. 1.