Former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion, Andy Murray, bid farewell to professional tennis on Thursday at the Paris Olympics.
His distinguished career concluded emotionally at the Paris Olympics after he and partner Dan Evans were defeated in the men’s doubles quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
The American duo, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, secured a 6-2, 6-4 win on Court Suzanne Lenglen, marking the end of Murray’s competitive journey at age 37.
Murray had previously announced that the Olympics would be his final tournament. Reflecting on his career, he expressed pride and satisfaction.
“It was emotional because it was the last time I would play a competitive match. But I am genuinely happy just now. I’m happy with how it finished.” Murray said.
He further emphasized the significance of retiring on his own terms. “I’m glad I got to go out here at the Olympics and finish on my terms because at times in the last few years that wasn’t a certainty.”
Novak Djokovic, a longtime rival and fellow tennis legend, praised Murray’s tenacity and impact on the sport. “One of the greatest warriors tennis has seen. His fighting spirit is something that I’m sure will inspire many generations to come,” the Serb remarked.
One of the ‘Big Four’ in the sport, Murray joins 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in retirement after the Swiss great quit in 2022.
He famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion at Wimbledon when he triumphed in 2013, defeating Djokovic in the final.
Murray’s storied career has influenced many tennis players in Britain and even though his journey comes to an end, his legacy as a fierce competitor and a pivotal figure in tennis’s golden generation remains indelible.