As the first tennis grand slam of the year begins, it’s impossible not to glance at the bigger picture.

This tennis season is, almost certainly, the beginning of the end for two of the game’s greats; Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal.

Murray will, at least, pick up his racquet at this year’s Australian Open whereas Nadal’s venture down under was fleeting; soon after landing on Australian soil, the Spaniard headed for an MRI scan before promptly withdrawing from the tournament citing a muscle tear.

Both men, despite their contrasting fortunes when it comes to playing in the season’s opening grand slam, however, have a similar feel around them when it comes to the 2024 season.

Murray and Nadal, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have both admitted this could well be their last year as professional tennis players.

Few observers were in any doubt that retirement wasn’t too far away for either Murray or Nadal.

What did come as somewhat of a surprise, though, was for both to admit that retirement is now, almost certainly, within touching distance.

Murray, in particular, is clearly reluctant in the extreme to hang up his racquet.

The Australian Open is a fitting time to assess where Murray’s career currently is.

It was here, after all, in 2019, the Scot was afforded what was effectively a retirement ceremony by the organisers of the Melbourne tournament, with the biggest names in the........

© Herald Scotland