By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Photo credit: Rob Newell/Camera Sport
Andy Murray will play the last match of his storied career in Paris.
Former world No. 1 Murray will remain a monumental figure in London long after his playing days are done.
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Two-time Olympic gold-medal champion Murray announced today on social media he will retire following this month's Paris Olympics where he's scheduled to play singles and doubles.
"Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament Olympics," Murray posted on Instagram. "Competing for GB have been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get do it one final time!"
All England Lawn Tennis Club CEO Sally Bolton said during Wimbledon the club plans a "long-lasting tribute" to Murray on the grounds.
First, officials want to discuss possible plans with the three-time Grand Slam champion to ensure Murray approves before launching the project.
Bolton's comments suggest the iconic Fred Perry statue could well be getting some company: an Andy Murray statue that would connect the nation's pre-Open Wimbledon champion Perry with Open Era champion Murray, who defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final becoming the first British man since Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon.
“As we said before: the plans for celebrating Andy’s career are broader than just what we decided to do on court.” Bolton told about 10 journalists in a short Q&A during the second week of Wimbledon. "So we’ve talked about a statue on the grounds somewhere.
"I think our view is that with those parts of a longer-lasting tribute we really want to engage with Andy on what those look like. We don’t think there’s a rush to do those things. Our plan is to work with Andy [on a tribute]."
Bolton said the club was pleased with the moving on-court tribute Sue Barker conducted with Andy Murray following his doubles loss alongside brother Jamie Murray in Wimbledon doubles earlier this month.
There were reports the AELTC planned a second tribute as Murray was entered into mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu on a wild card before the 2021 US Open champion pulled out of mixed doubles. Raducanu was eliminated from the singles draw by inspired Lulu Sun.
Bolton said the club believed the men's doubles match was the right time to honor Murray standing shoulder-to-shoulder alongside brother Jamie Murray.
"When we looked at what was likely to unfold with The Championships, our priority was finding the right point at which to give Andy the celebration send off that he absolutely deserved," Bolton said during her Q&A. "As we looked at that for us the right opportunity for us was to use the men’s doubles when he was playing with his brother to do that celebration.
"We’re really happy with how that worked, where that landed, and how that was received. It helped that day the sun was shining so when Andy went out on the bridge the sun was shining we felt it was about the only time in the whole Championships.
"We had never necessarily played for the celebration to be absolutely his last match. We wanted to make sure that we picked the right time to do it in the best way possible. So we’re really pleased with how that turned out."
Asked about 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic's suggestion that Murray could return for one final Wimbledon doubles farewell in 2025, Bolton replied: "I have no idea of what he’s talking to Novak about."
"Clearly he’s one of the greatest champions The Championships have seen so fans would love to see Andy back," Bolton said. "But clearly that is a decision for Andy."