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Andy Murray stated he was retiring “on my phrases” as his trophy-filled profession got here to an emotional finish on the Paris Olympics on Thursday, closing one other chapter on tennis’s golden technology. The previous world primary and three-time Grand Slam title winner slipped into retirement aged 37 when he and Dan Evans misplaced within the males’s doubles quarter-finals at Roland Garros. American pair Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul delivered the knockout blow with a 6-2, 6-4 victory on a packed Court docket Suzanne Lenglen.
Britain’s Murray had already introduced that the Olympics could be his final occasion.
“I am pleased with my profession, my achievements and what I put into the game,” stated Murray.
“Clearly it was emotional as a result of it is the final time I’ll play a aggressive match. However I’m genuinely glad simply now. I am pleased with the way it completed.”
By no means even favored tennis anyway.
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 1, 2024
He added: “I am glad I acquired to exit right here on the Olympics and end on my phrases as a result of at instances in the previous few years that wasn’t a certainty.”
Just some hours after Murray had made his exit, he cheekily wrote on X: “By no means even favored tennis anyway”.
Profession-long rival Novak Djokovic described Murray as “an unimaginable competitor”.
“One of many best warriors tennis has seen. His preventing spirit is unquestionably one thing that I am positive goes to encourage many generations to come back,” stated the Serb.
Damage toll
One of many ‘Large 4’ within the sport, Murray joins 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in retirement after the Swiss nice give up in 2022.
Rafael Nadal, the winner of twenty-two majors however battling extra accidents on the age of 38, exited the Paris Olympics on Wednesday and prompt that he had performed his final match at Roland Garros, the place he gained 14 of his Slams.
Nadal additionally successfully dominated himself out of the US Open, sparking extra hypothesis that the nice Spaniard can also be completed within the sport.
That would depart simply 37-year-old Djokovic — winner of a document 24 Grand Slams — nonetheless lively amongst the game’s eminent skills who’ve carved up 69 majors between them.
Murray famously ended Britain’s 77-year anticipate a males’s champion at Wimbledon when he triumphed in 2013, defeating Djokovic within the ultimate.
He added a second title in 2016, taking his profession majors complete to a few after breaking his duck on the 2012 US Open.
Murray gained gold on the 2012 Olympics on an emotional day on the All England Membership when he defeated Federer simply weeks after he had misplaced the Wimbledon ultimate to the Swiss on the identical Centre Court docket.
4 years later he defeated Juan Martin del Potro to turn out to be the primary participant, man or girl, to win two Olympic singles golds.
Murray additionally led Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015, the nation’s first in 79 years.
He has gained 46 titles in all and banked round $65 million in prize cash.
Nonetheless, he has been ravaged by accidents lately, slumping to 117th on the earth.
The Scot has performed with a steel hip since 2019 and suffered ankle injury earlier this 12 months earlier than present process surgical procedure to take away a spinal cyst, which dominated him out of singles at Wimbledon.
As a substitute, he performed doubles with brother Jamie and was defeated within the first spherical earlier than an emotional tribute organized by match chiefs.
“It is onerous as a result of I’d like to maintain taking part in, however I am unable to,” admitted Murray on the All England Membership.
“Bodily it’s too robust now, all the accidents, they’ve added up they usually have not been insignificant.”
Males’s tennis has already opened up a brand new frontier.
Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian, succeeded Djokovic as Australian Open champion in January and ultimately took his world primary rating.
Carlos Alcaraz, 21, gained the French Open and efficiently defended his Wimbledon title, sweeping Djokovic off court docket in a one-sided ultimate in July.
“It was a privilege to share the court docket with you, Andy!” Alcaraz wrote on X in tribute to Murray.
“Congratulations on a legendary profession and for being an instance to all. You’ll at all times have a fan right here.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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