Andy Murray is in grave doubt for the Australian Open and contemplating surgery on his troublesome hip after the former world No.1's withdrawal from the Brisbane International.
The three-time grand slam champion was to be the second seed at the Brisbane event but pulled out after failing to train on Tuesday.
The world No.16 had hoped to play his first tournament match since July on Thursday - a second-round clash with American Ryan Harrison at Pat Rafter Arena.
However, the 30-year-old again succumbed to a right hip injury that has kept him out of tournament play since Wimbledon.
In a lengthy and emotional Instagram post on Tuesday night, Murray said he was "really hurting inside" but would stay in Australia and decide his next move by the weekend.
"Having been recommended to treat my hip conservatively since the US Open I have done everything asked of me from a rehab perspective and worked extremely hard to try to get back on the court competing," Murray wrote.
"Having played practice sets here in Brisbane with some top players unfortunately this hasn't worked yet to get me to the level I would like so I have to reassess my options.
"Obviously continuing rehab is one option and giving my hip more time to recover.
"Surgery is also an option but the chances of a successful outcome are not as I high as I would like which has made this my secondary option and my hope has been to avoid that. However this is something I may have to consider."
Barring a miraculous recovery in the coming days, Murray looks destined to join fellow "Big Four" members Rafael Nadal (back) and Novak Djokovic (elbow) in missing the year's opening grand slam in Melbourne starting on January 15.
Murray, the 2012 Brisbane champion, posted a photo of himself as a child and said the "little kid inside me just wants to play tennis and compete."
"I genuinely miss it so much and I would give anything to be back out there," he wrote.
"I didn't realise until these last few months just how much I love this game."
Alarm bells were ringing for Murray when he made his long awaited return to court and lost 6-2 to world No.20 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in a one-set exhibition match in Abu Dhabi last week.
Then the Scot - initially expected in Brisbane before Christmas - delayed his arrival in Queensland in another indication his fitness was not 100 per cent.
It leaves the Brisbane International largely bereft of star power after the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal last week.
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