Andy Murray has undergone hip resurfacing surgery in London.
The two-time Wimbledon champion had debated having the procedure, which involves putting a metal plate into the joint, in a final bid to prolong his career.
Before the Australian Open earlier this month, the 31-year-old said he intended to retire after this year's Wimbledon.
"I underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in London yesterday morning... feeling a bit battered and bruised just now, but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain," Murray said on Instagram.
The operation does not guarantee the Scot can make a comeback, but it will allow him to live a pain-free life.
Murray was set for a farewell six months after emotionally announcing he was in too much pain to carry on in the build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year.
But after a monumental five-set tussle with Roberto Bautista-Agut, where Murray showed he still has the ability and desire to compete at the top level, he said he would do everything he could to keep playing
Having the surgery, which happened in London on Tuesday (NZ time), means he might not be fit to take part at Wimbledon this summer, where he had planned to say goodbye to the sport.
And if it does not allow him to return to the court, he will have played the last game of his glittering career.
In the lead-up to his operation, he was in constant dialogue with American doubles specialist Bob Bryan, who has just returned to the game, after the same procedure last summer.
This is the second round of surgery on the troublesome joint, 12 months after the first one, which did not solve the issue.
Murray made a long-awaited comeback at Queen's last summer, but pulled out of Wimbledon and struggled to play matches.
It was hoped an extensive rehabilitation period in Philadelphia, followed by a gruelling pre-season stint in Miami might prove the answer, but Murray was still in significant pain on the court.
Murray will now undergo more rehabilitation to see if he can play again.
PA
