Andy Murray, one of tennis’s renowned ‘Big Four,’ has joined the ranks of retirees alongside Roger Federer. Announcing his retirement “on my terms,” Murray’s illustrious career came to a heartfelt close at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. The former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion retired at 37, following his and Dan Evans’s defeat in the men’s doubles quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
Andy Murray, waving to a cheering crowd, marked his final competitive match. The American duo of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul sealed Murray’s fate with a 6-2, 6-4 victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Murray had previously declared the Olympics would be his concluding event.
Reflecting on his journey, Murray expressed pride in his career and achievements. “It was emotional, knowing it was my last competitive match. But I am genuinely content. I’m happy with how it ended,” he shared. He added, “I’m pleased to have ended it here at the Olympics, on my terms.”
Shortly after his exit, Murray humorously posted on X: “Never even liked tennis anyway.” Novak Djokovic, a career-long rival, lauded Murray as “an incredible competitor” and praised his fighting spirit.
Murray joins the retired Roger Federer, who ended his career in 2022. Rafael Nadal, struggling with injuries at 38, hinted at his potential retirement after exiting the Paris Olympics and ruling himself out of the US Open. This leaves Djokovic, with a record 24 Grand Slams, as the last active player among the sport’s elite, who together have won 69 majors.
Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s champion in 2013 by defeating Djokovic. He won another Wimbledon title in 2016 and his first major at the 2012 US Open. Murray’s notable achievements include two Olympic golds, winning the Davis Cup for Britain in 2015, and amassing 46 titles with $65 million in prize money.
Despite his success, injuries plagued Murray’s later years, dropping him to 117th in the rankings. He has played with a metal hip since 2019 and underwent surgery for a spinal cyst, causing him to miss Wimbledon singles. His doubles campaign with brother Jamie ended in the first round, followed by an emotional tribute.
At the All England Club, Murray admitted, “I would love to keep playing, but it’s physically too challenging now.” The new generation of men’s tennis stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have begun to shine, but the legacy of Andy Murray remains impactful. Alcaraz paid tribute to Murray, saying, “It was a privilege to share the court with you, Andy! Congratulations on a legendary career.”
