PERHAPS Scotland's greatest ever sportsperson will imminently hang up his rackets after admitting the pain in his hip has become too much to bear.

After dedicating his life to tennis, Andy Murray will now begin a new chapter as he looks to his future.

Here, we weigh up what the 31-year-old might do next.

The National:

Scotland's next great tennis hope, Aidan McHugh​

MANAGEMENT
Although he would not have expected it to come so soon, Murray has been planning for life off the court for some time. He set up his sports management agency, 77, with business advisers Matt Gentry and Gawain Davies in 2013 and has signed up a number of young athletes, among them tennis players Aidan McHugh and Katie Swan. Murray is unlikely to become a travelling coach, at least in the short term, but mentoring young professionals and helping them avoid some of the pitfalls he suffered is something that motivates him.

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Andy Murray at Cromlix House hotel. Photograph: John Paul photography

INVESTMENT
Murray has an interest in business and technology and partnered with equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs in 2015. The Scot focuses on investing in start-ups and told Forbes last summer that he has stakes in more than 30 ventures. Property is another interest. Murray bought Cromlix House hotel near his home town of Dunblane in 2013, turning it into a luxury venue.

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Andy Murray was a natural in the commentary box at Wimbledon in 2017

MEDIA
Murray tried his hand at punditry as he sat out last year's Wimbledon and, unsurprisingly, proved a natural. Often depicted as dour and boring, the Scot in fact has a dry wit and easy manner, and his encyclopaedic knowledge of tennis and intelligent analysis would make him a very welcome addition to the world of broadcasting. He has no huge desire to be in front of a camera, and the length of the match he commentated on between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro was an eye-opener, but he may dip in and out like Tim Henman.

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Ross Hutchins, Andy Murray and Colin Fleming during a Davis Cup event in Glasgow

DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN

Davis Cup When Leon Smith decides to relinquish the reins as Great Britain captain, who better to step into his shoes than the man who carried his country to the 2015 title virtually single-handed? Murray has always loved the team environment and would surely prove an inspirational figure. With the restructuring of the competition meaning fewer ties, it would be a manageable commitment.