Andy Murray’s farewell at Wimbledon commenced with a poignant first-round exit in men’s doubles, where he partnered with his brother Jamie. Tennis greats Roger Federer, Venus Williams, and Novak Djokovic appeared in a heartfelt tribute video, while renowned presenter Sue Barker temporarily returned from retirement to honor Murray on Centre Court. Murray, having withdrawn from the singles competition, teamed up with Jamie but was defeated by the Australian duo John Peers and Rinky Hijikata with scores of 6-7, 4-6.
Murray’s final Wimbledon match will be in mixed doubles, partnering with 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu. The match itself was overshadowed by the emotional scenes that followed, with Murray becoming visibly emotional alongside a teary-eyed audience on Centre Court. Djokovic, who later secured a second-round victory against Brit Jacob Fearnley in four sets, was also in attendance.
“The match was physically tough for me. I was lucky to even get on the court,” said Murray, who underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his spine less than two weeks ago, leading to his withdrawal from the singles draw.
Reflecting on the tribute, Murray said, “It was pretty emotional. Watching the video was nice, but also hard because it marks the end of something I’ve loved doing for so long. That was difficult.”
The Championships tweeted a tribute video for Murray. “Sometimes,” Djokovic remarked in the video, “it seemed like you were battling the world alone.” Federer added, “But you were never alone. While you pursued your dreams, you also carried those of your fans.”
This was the first time Andy and Jamie Murray paired up at the All England Club, marking a significant moment as it was also the first men’s doubles first-round match played in the main stadium in nearly 30 years. It was a fitting farewell for Murray, allowing his fans to express their gratitude and well wishes.
Murray, the 37-year-old Scottish tennis star, has announced his retirement following his appearances at Wimbledon and the upcoming Paris Olympics. “I’m ready to stop playing because I can’t compete at the level I want anymore,” Murray stated.
