There is no perfect way to end a tennis career.
Murray said it himself after losing to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in the first round of the French Open last month.
Finishing with a defeat is more than likely, particularly for a player in their late 30s who has been beset by injuries and ranked outside the top 100.
But another fitness issue for Murray feels especially cruel in what he thinks will be the final year of his illustrious career.
Rupturing ankle ligaments at the Miami Open in March, just as Murray began to show signs of resurgent form, was already a considerable blow.
Even though he was able to return seven weeks later, he has been hampered by a back problem caused by playing on clay.
Murray said earlier this week he felt ending at Wimbledon or the Olympics – the events in which he has enjoyed the most gratifying successes of his career – would be a fitting farewell.
With Wimbledon starting on 1 July – and a planned doubles appearance there with his older brother Jamie – Murray’s army of adoring British fans will be hoping the latest physical issue will not affect his chances of saying an emotional goodbye.
Thompson advanced to the quarter-finals, joining Australia’s Rinky Hijikata and American Sebastian Korda after they won earlier on Wednesday.
Hijkata won 7-6 (7-0) 7-6 (9-7) against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, while Korda earned a 6-4 3-6 7-5 win over Bulgaria’s 2014 champion and third seed Grigor Dimitrov.
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