By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Two-time Olympic gold-medal champion Andy Murray confirms he will officially retire after this month's Paris Olympic Games.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
It's the last tennis tango in Paris for Andy Murray.
Two-time Olympic gold-medal champion Murray confirmed he will close the curtain on his glorious career following this month's Paris Olympic Games.
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Former world No. 1 Murray made history at the 2016 Rio Games as the only man to successfully defend the Olympic singles gold medal.
The 37-year-old Murray will play singles and doubles at his fifth Olympics staged on the red clay of Roland Garros.
"Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament," Murray wrote on X. "Competing for Team GB has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I'm extremely proud to get to do it one final time!"
Murray will conclude a historic career with 46 career titles and nearly $65 million in career prize money, but his impact transcends titles and rankings. Murray had a well-earned reputation as an honest champion willing to speak his mind and put himself on the line in the process.
Following his Wimbledon doubles defeat with brother Jamie Murray earlier this month, Andy Murray was asked what he hoped his legacy will be in the sport. Murray said he's most proud of his perseverance and work ethic through all the injuries and surgeries he endured.
"I think the thing that I did a really good job of during my career was that, regardless of the highs and lows, whether it was winning tournaments, having difficult losses, an operation, a setback, that I was able to treat the next day, like I always came into work with the same dedication, work ethic, and passion, as I had the day before, regardless of the highs and lows that the sport kind of has thrown at me," Murray said at Wimbledon. "I certainly didn't always get it right. Like on the match days, I was not perfect by any stretch, but I did always come into work and put in a good day. I gave my best effort.
"Yeah, that's what I'm proud of. So I guess, I don't know, it's for other people to decide what my legacy would be. That's the thing I'm most proud of."
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, who seized the year-end world No. 1 ranking in 2016, has often played his most dynamic tennis representing Great Britain.
Playing with the fearlessness of a man on a mission, Murray defeated David Goffin, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3, sealing Great Britain's 3-1 victory over host Belgium in the 2015 Davis Cup final to clinch Britain's first Davis Cup championship in 79 years in Ghent.
"It feels amazing. I never thought we would have the opportunity to do this. I can't believe we did it," said Murray wearing the Union Jack wrapped around his shoulders. "It's been an unbelievably tough, tough year. Won some big matches. Everyone who has played, played an unbelievably high level... I can't believe we did it."
Murray knows about eradicating ghosts haunting his nation. He beat Novak Djokovic to capture the 2013 Wimbledon title ending a 77-year British title drought at The Championships and snapped another British winless streak in commanding style in that Davis Cup final.