LOVE GAME

Murray insists he's still having smashing time

- NEIL MCLEMAN

ANDY MURRAY is back in Melbourne to write what could be a final chapter in his Australian Open story after admitting last season was "rubbish".

The Scot has lost five finals here, including four to Novak Djokvic, and announced his likely retirement in 2019 before his second hip operation.

Now the end of his fabled career is even closer and every defeat will be accompanied by questions about how long he will go on. Wimbledon, or the Paris Olympics, are obvious farewell events.

But even the double Olympic champion, who has returned to the world's top 50 with a metal hip, seems uncertain about his future.

Murray, who turns 37 in May, admitted he was not really enjoying his tennis last season, with a frustrating loss to Alex de Minaur in Paris.