Andy Murray has officially retired from professional tennis following his participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics, concluding a distinguished 19-year career marked by numerous achievements and personal challenges.
The 37-year-old athlete announced on his X handle late Thursday, August 1, 2024, humorously stating, “Never even liked tennis anyway.” His final match took place in the men’s doubles quarterfinals at Roland Garros, where he and fellow Brit Dan Evans faced off against the American duo Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, ultimately losing 6-2, 6-4.
Despite the loss, Murray expressed pride in ending his career on his own terms, especially given the uncertainties he faced in recent years due to injuries. Earlier, he had withdrawn from the singles event at the Olympics to focus on the doubles competition with Evans, believing it offered his best chance for another medal.
Murray first rose to prominence by winning the junior US Open in 2004 and turning professional the following year. Throughout his career, he secured notable victories, including two Wimbledon titles (2013, 2016), a US Open title (2012), and achieving the world number-one ranking in 2016. He also made Olympic history by winning gold medals in singles at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, making him the only player to win back-to-back Olympic singles titles in the modern era.
Murray’s career was also marked by significant injury struggles, particularly with his hip, leading to hip resurfacing surgery in 2019. Despite these challenges, his determination and resilience have been widely admired in the tennis community.
As Murray bid farewell to tennis, he was celebrated by fans and fellow players, including his long-time rival Novak Djokovic, who praised him as an “incredible competitor” with an inspiring fighting spirit. Murray’s retirement follows the recent retirement of Roger Federer in 2022 and ongoing injury struggles for Rafael Nadal, marking the end of an era in tennis.
