Andy Murray's swansong in doubt after ankle injury rules Scot out for 'extended period'

Andy Murray is set for an “extended spell” on the sidelines after he suffered a significant ankle injury during his defeat to Tomas Machac at the Miami Open.

The Scot has said he will retire later in 2024 and this latest setback threatens to disrupt his plans for his final year as an active player, with the French Open, Wimbledon and Paris Olympics on the horizon.

Murray lost a punishing encounter to the Czech player by a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 score, but has seemingly left the US with bigger worries.

After the 10th game of the final set, Murray fell to the floor and screamed in pain after rolling his ankle when racing towards the net, having sealed the point that won the game.

A medical time-out was called for the three-time major winner, but he picked himself up and continued, only to lose the deciding set on a tie-breaker.

The 36-year-old has now confirmed the severity of the injury with both his Anterior Talo-Fibular ligament (ATFL) and Calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) ruptured.

“Yesterday towards the end of my match in Miami I suffered a full rupture of my ATFL and near full thickness rupture of my CFL,” Murray said on Instagram.

“I will see an ankle specialist when I return home to determine next steps. Goes without saying this is a tough one to take and I’ll be out for an extended period.

“But I’ll be back with one hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right.”

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Murray revealed back in February – during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – his intention to retire this year, when he told reporters: “I don’t plan on playing much past this summer.”

It followed a series of setbacks with first-round exits in Australia and France, but Murray has since managed to improve his