‘Proud’ Murray bows out of tennis with Paris Olympics defeat
Andy Murray announced his “on my terms” retirement at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, ending tennis’s golden generation. After losing to Dan Evans in the Roland Garros men’s doubles quarterfinals, the 37-year-old former world number one retired. American team Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul knocked out a crowded Court Suzanne Lenglen 6-2, 6-4. British athlete Murray had previously declared his retirement after the Olympics.
“I’m proud of my career, achievements and what I put into the sport,” he remarked. I was emotional because it was my last competitive match. Now I’m truly happy. Happy with the result.” He said “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.” Longtime rival Novak Djokovic called Murray “an incredible competitor”.
“Among tennis’ finest warriors. “His fighting spirit will inspire future generations,” stated the Serb. Injury toll Murray joins 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in retirement when Federer retired in 2022. Rafael Nadal, the 38-year-old champion of 22 majors but struggling with ailments, left the Paris Olympics on Wednesday and claimed he had played his last match at Roland Garros, where he won 14 Slams.
Nadal recently withdrew from the US Open, fueling speculation that he is done with tennis. Only 37-year-old Djokovic, winner of a record 24 Grand Slams, remains among the sport’s top players, who have won 69 majors. In 2013, Murray defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final to break Britain’s 77-year drought for a men’s winner. After breaking his duck at the 2012 US Open, he won again in 2016.
An emotional Murray defeated Federer at the All England Club to win gold at the 2012 Olympics, weeks after losing the Wimbledon final to the Swiss on Centre Court. He became the first man or woman to win two Olympic singles golds by defeating Juan Martin del Potro four years later. Murray guided Britain to its first Davis Cup triumph in 79 years in 2015. He has 46 titles and about $65 million in prize money. His recent injuries have dropped him to 117th in the globe.
The Scot has played with a metal hip since 2019 and had ankle problems earlier this year before undergoing spinal cyst surgery, which kept him out of Wimbledon singles. He played doubles with brother Jamie and lost in the first round before an emotional homage by tournament leaders. “It’s hard because I want to play, but I can’t,” Murray told the All England Club. “Physically it is too tough now, all of the injuries, have added up and they haven’t been insignificant.”
Men’s tennis has expanded. Jannik Sinner, 22, of Italy, defeated Djokovic in the Australian Open in January and became world number one. Carlos Alcaraz, 21, defeated Djokovic in a one-sided final at the French Open and Wimbledon in July.
