Andy Murray has announced his retirement from professional tennis. The Brit has chosen to call time and hang up his racquet following the Paris Olympics.
Andy Murray announces retirement from tennis following Olympics
The 3 time grand slam, 2 time Olympic singles gold medal winner faced the press today. The Brit and former world #1 has announced that he has decided to hang up his racquet. We’ve been here before. The Brit was forced to announce retirement back in 2019 at the Australian Open.
Back then, Murray was extremely emotional as the decision was taken out of his hands. With a bad hip that prevented him from even tying his shoes without pain, the Brit was in tears as he announced that he had no choice, he hoped to retire at Wimbledon that year, but also confirmed that it may be earlier than that.
The Brit then underwent hip resurfacing. This was to take him out of pain so that he could start living his life again, forgetting about the possibility of tennis. The surgery was successful and Murray was pain free, the big question though was could he ever play professional tennis as a singles player again.
No-one had ever returned to singles after the operation. Bob Bryan had a similar operation in 2018. The American returned to the doubles tour before retiring in 2020. Murray has achieved a career longer than the 2 years. The Brit managed 5 years from the operation year before calling time.
Retiring on his terms
Unlike in 2019, Andy Murray has been able to pick when he retires. Something every sports person wants to do. Just like Roger Federer did in 2022. Federer even joked that he was glad to be able to be the first of the big four to retire. Rafael Nadal announced that 2024 would be his last year, but has since hinted he will try and go on if he can. Both have been able to choose when they will go.
Murray has now joined them, retiring at his choosing, rather than being forced to retire like he was originally back in 2019. The Brit has had a stellar career, despite being in the era of Federer, Nadal & Novak Djokovic. Between the four of them, they have dominated the ATP tour for 20 years. Although the Brit was never able to win the Australian Open he made the final five times. Murray also made the semifinal at the French Open four times.
Wimbledon was where the Brit claimed his biggest three titles. It started in 2012. Having lost to Federer at the All England Championships just four weeks before, the Brit defeated the Swiss in the Olympic final to claim the gold medal. A year later, Murray was in the final again. This time he faced Djokovic. Defeating the Serb in straight sets the Brit ended a 77 year wait for a men’s singles champion. He repeated the feat in 2016, this time his opponent was Milos Raonic. Another straight sets win and the Brit lifted his home grand slam title for the second time.
Double Olympic Gold
Andy Murray got “the monkey off his back” in 2012 when he took the US Open title after a terrific five set thriller with Djokovic. This seemed to release the Brit as he finally had a grand slam, but he reached new heights with the Wimbledon titles. Between the two Wimbledon titles the Brit also helped secure the Davis Cup in 2015. The same year that Murray got his second Wimbledon title, he also secured back to back Olympic Gold medals, by taking the title in Rio.
The Brit also ended that year as world #1 to the delight of his fans. Going out on his terms is the least Murray deserves. Any sports person wants to choose when to leave their sport. Murray was never going to win another slam after his surgery in 2019, however, the Brit had been enjoying his tennis.
After an early exit again in the Australian Open, it was clear to see that Murray was unhappy and uncomfortable. It was only a matter of time before the Brit chose to leave professional tennis. It’s very likely that fans will still see him play at exhibitions, at invitationals and the “veterans” tours, but a very big title is out of the question.
