Jul 28, 2024; Paris, France; Andy Murray (GBR) competes against Daniel Taro (Japan) and Kei Nishikori in the first round of the men’s tennis doubles at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics at Roland Garros (Japan). Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports PARIS — Andy Murray and doubles partner Daniel Evans lost 6-2, 6-4 to American pair Tyler Evans in the Olympic quarterfinals at Roland Garros on Thursday. Freeze and Tommy Paul, his illustrious career was finally over.
The 37-year-old Scot, considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes after winning Wimbledon twice and reaching world number one, announced before the Olympics that he would retire once the competition is over.
After retiring from singles while recovering from spinal cyst surgery, he and Evans won two rounds of doubles, saving multiple match points in each round, raising hopes for a golden final chapter of his career.
They saved another match point against the United States at Stade Suzanne Lenglen on Thursday, but the story ended with Evans’ long-range strike past Fritz and Paul, ending with Murray finishing fourth hopes of an Olympic medal.
He won singles titles in 2012 and 2016 and a mixed doubles silver medal in 2012.
Murray’s final salute to the audience received a standing ovation, with Fritz and Paul also joining in the ovation. Evans was visibly emotional and Murray had tears in his eyes as he waved to the crowd one last time and walked away.
“It was a fantastic final,” Murray told a crowd of media as the skies opened at Roland Garros. “Obviously, this is not a perfect ending.
“It would be great to win a medal. But I feel good. I’m happy with the end result. I’m happy to be able to go to the Olympics and finish the way I did because sometimes in the past few years it’s been uncertain.
Murray, who played against Serbian Novak Djokovic 36 times during his career, led the tributes.
“I have nothing but praise for him, he’s an incredible competitor and one of the greatest fighters this sport has ever seen,” Djokovic told reporters after reaching the singles semifinals. “His fighting spirit will inspire generations to come.”
Over the past two decades, Murray has been a leading figure in British tennis and has been tied with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic for several consecutive years as one of the top four tennis players.
His first breakthrough came when he beat Federer to win the Olympic title in 2012, weeks after losing to the Swiss in the Wimbledon final. Later that year, he won the U.S. Open.
In 2013, he ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s singles title by defeating Djokovic – a match watched by 17.3 million British television viewers.
Three years later, he won his second Wimbledon title and ended the year ranked No. 1 in the world. He also led Team GB to the Davis Cup title in 2015 and is the only player (male or female) to win consecutive Olympic singles titles.
“Andy was the greatest tennis player this country has ever produced and a giant in British sport,” LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said in a statement. “His contribution to the sport was immense and has been of great value to all of us. It brought a lot of proud moments.”
As the injury began to take its toll, Murray needed career-saving hip replacement surgery in 2019.
Murray’s resilience has shone through as he struggles to reach his previous heights, even though he has only added one to the 45 ATP titles he had won before hip surgery.
——Reuters, especially for live media
