PARIS — Tears filled Andy Murray's eyes as he walked alone onto the court, bidding farewell to professional tennis after a loss in the Paris Olympics doubles quarterfinals on Thursday night.
The 37-year-old Murray had declared that the 2024 Summer Games would be his final event. Alongside his partner Dan Evans, Murray was defeated by the American pair Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, 6-2, 6-4, at Court Suzanne Lenglen.
“I knew this moment was coming for the last few months. If it didn’t happen today, it would have been in a couple of days, and I was prepared for it. Of course, I was emotional because it’s the last time I will play a competitive match. But I am genuinely happy now. I’m pleased with how it’s finished,” said Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and the only player in tennis history to win two Summer Games singles golds.
“I’m glad I got to go out here at the Olympics and finish on my terms,” Murray said. “In the last few years, that hasn’t always been certain.”
Murray has faced numerous injuries in the latter part of his career, including two hip surgeries, one involving a metal implant in 2019. Most recently, he had surgery in June to remove a cyst from his spine, which led to his withdrawal from singles at Wimbledon and the Olympics; he only competed in the doubles events at both tournaments.
The pain and discomfort in my body is not good, and that’s also why I’m happy to be finishing. If I kept going and kept trying, eventually you end up having an injury potentially ending your career,” Murray said. “So I know that now’s the right time. Physically, it’s been really hard.”
Earlier in the tournament, the British pair managed to stave off a total of seven match points — or “retirement points,” in this case — five in the first round and two more in the second round, to extend Murray’s career a little longer.
"Those guys were good today. That’s the bottom line,” Evans admitted. “And we were not.”
Andy Murray's storied career boasts two Wimbledon titles, a U.S. Open championship, and Olympic gold medals from the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. His groundbreaking 2013 Wimbledon win made him the first British man in 77 years to claim that title. He secured his second Wimbledon victory in 2016, adding to his initial Grand Slam triumph at the 2012 U.S. Open.
As Thursday’s match concluded, the crowd erupted into a standing ovation. Both Evans and the American duo, Fritz and Paul, joined in the applause.
“We were pumped up to win, but it is sad, I guess, to see it end for Andy. He’s someone that both of us have looked up to for a very long time. He’s a great guy,” Fritz reflected. “I don’t take a lot of pride in doing it, but we’re here to win a medal.”
Fritz and Paul will advance to face the Australian pair Matt Ebden and John Peers. The other semifinal pits the fourth-seeded American duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram against the Czech team of Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek.
As he left the court for the final time, Murray paused to sign autographs for fans, a fitting farewell for the beloved champion.
Andy Murray will forever be remembered as a player who maximized his talent and carved out a place for himself among the Big Three of men’s tennis—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, who collectively hold 66 Grand Slam singles titles. Murray's three Grand Slam victories stand as a testament to his tenacity and skill.
He also finished a season ranked No. 1 in the world.
“Just incredible resilience throughout all his career,” Djokovic said last month. “Multiple Grand Slam winner. Legend of the game.”
Murray's success stemmed from his grinding baseline play, superb returns, and relentless determination. Off the court, he gained popularity for his advocacy for women in sports, notably hiring Amelie Mauresmo as his coach—one of the few instances of a top male player working with a female coach. Murray has never shied away from voicing his opinions on issues affecting both his sport and society.
As for his future, Murray remains uncertain, though he noted that he didn’t enjoy being a TV commentator when he tried it in the past.
For now, he plans to take a break and eventually decide on his next steps.
“If that’s nothing—just being at home, being with my family, and being a dad,” Murray said, “that’s something I look forward to.”