Britain’s Andy Murray faces an “extended period” out of tennis after suffering serious ankle injuries in his third-round exit from the Miami Open on Sunday.

Murray exited the Miami Open for the final time and in characteristic style, he did so with a performance full of grit and skill but also plenty of passion.

The emotion of the game itself, a missed chance for a third straight win in a tournament for the first time in over a year, was enhanced by Murray knowing this week was his final appearance in a city he calls his “tennis home”.

The two-times Miami winner lost out in a thrilling third set tie-break to Czech Tomas Machac, managing to battle on after receiving treatment for an ankle injury.

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While he continued to play and was initially optimistic about his ankle he said on Monday that he had suffered a full rupture of his anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and a near full-thickness rupture of his calcaneofibular ligament (CFL).

“I will see an ankle specialist when I return home to determine the next steps,” Murray posted on Instagram.

“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 1 hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right,” he said.

Murray, who will be 37 in May, has already indicated he will retire later this year after battling back from hip surgery in 2019.

He is likely to play at the Olympics in Paris and Wimbledon, where he has won twice, before departing from the sport.

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