Andy Murray’s illustrious tennis profession got here to an finish on Thursday when he joined Workforce GB on the 2024 Olympics alongside Dan Evans.
Though the British later encountered some resistance, Murray and Evans defeated The doubles quarter-finals had been received by Individuals Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Two-time gold medalist and three-time Grand Slam champion Murray bid a fond farewell at Wimbledon earlier this month, partnering brother Jamie in his closing doubles match on the All England Membership.
Tim Henman shares his reminiscences of the three-time Grand Slam champion, from his first impressions to his profession legacy and every thing in between, in an interview with Sky Sports activities’ Murray Particular . You may watch Andy Murray: Braveness, Glory and Legacy sky sports activities tennis On demand beginning Friday at 8am.
When did you first hear Andy Murray?
“I first heard about him when he was about 14 or 15 and he was taking part in in some youth occasions after which occupied with taking part in at a future degree.
“The primary time I used to be actually with him was in 2004, once I misplaced within the U.S. Open semifinals and he had simply received the junior event.
“We had been in La Manga, Spain, for a coaching camp earlier than the Davis Cup, and we had been coaching on the clay courts. That was the primary time I used to be truly with him and in a position to see him on the coaching pitch.”
Henman says he first met Murray within the US in 2004
First impression of Murray?
“He was in a really completely different atmosphere at that stage. He was just a little bit shy, however I believe you knew straight away that he was a pupil of the sport and he actually absorbed all the knowledge and every thing across the Davis Cup.
“We’re clearly at a a lot greater degree than he’s, however you’ll be able to inform he has a perception. That is the place he needs to be.
“That’s the place he thought he can be, and from these early days it’s been actually spectacular to see how rapidly he’s progressed.”
Lower than a month after dropping the 2012 Wimbledon closing, Murray beat Roger Federer on Heart Court docket to win Olympic gold
What takes Murray to the subsequent degree?
“In tennis you want all completely different attributes. Bodily it’s a must to have velocity, steadiness and footwork, however you’ve to have the ability to do it for 4, 5 and even six hours.
“Andy targets all these completely different areas. He is a terrific athlete as a counterattacker and his defensive expertise play an enormous position in Andy’s success.
“The job he does, whether or not it’s on the coaching area, on the monitor or within the health club, it’s protected to say he leaves no stone unturned and will get every thing out of the sport.”
Murray received the Wimbledon Grand Slam singles titles in 2013 and 2016 throughout his profession
Unfavorable press, together with feedback concerning the 2006 World Cup “by anybody however England”
“I keep in mind rather a lot as a result of I used to be being interviewed by him. We had been at Wimbledon and we had been simply strolling with the reporter, I believe a photographer, looking for a spot the place we might sit down and do the interview.
“We had been speaking concerning the World Cup as a result of it was a World Cup 12 months and I had lots of chats and lots of banter, criticizing Scotland’s lack of high quality, which was simply regular banter.
“The reporter laughed and mentioned to Andy: ‘Who’re you going to assist?’ and he simply mentioned, as any Scot would say after that dialog: ‘I’ll assist whoever performs for England’.
Through the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Murray acquired some unfavorable media protection
“We sat down for an interview and we talked for an hour however not as soon as did we discuss concerning the World Cup or soccer, so given the circumstances it was a really unfair title and he suffered from it.
“There was definitely a time when which will have affected folks’s notion of Andy, however that could not be farther from the reality. He lived in England for a very long time and his spouse was British, so it was a troublesome time.”
Recollections of taking part in alongside Murray
“He was somebody I knew very properly from an early age. The final match I performed as an expert was the Davis Cup in opposition to Croatia at Wimbledon, which was a World Group qualifier.
“On Friday I performed singles and Andy performed the opposite singles and we received each, main 2-0, after which on Saturday I performed doubles with Jamie, so my final skilled match was with Murray.”
Henman performed alongside Murray for Nice Britain throughout the Davis Cup
Murray received Wimbledon in 2013
“It is incredible. Once I was commentating that day, I used to be as conscious as anybody of the dearth of a male Wimbledon champion in Britain since Fred Perry in 1936. What a terrific deal that it’s for British sport, for British tennis and positively for It was an necessary second for Andy.
“Going into his match in opposition to Djokovic, Djokovic might be his biggest opponent. They’ve grown up since they had been 11 years outdated and Djokovic is possibly the best within the historical past of our sport. Males’s Champion.
“To get this win and the way in which he obtained it, we had been in straight units, however it was positively nearer than that!”
Develop into primary on the earth
“It was unbelievable. He was in tears after the U.S. Open, having received all these tournaments in a row.
“To have the tour-ending event in London, to get to the ultimate. He was taking part in in opposition to Djokovic once more in a match that determined who completed first. For him to realize that I believe is the icing on the cake.
“Only a few gamers can obtain the primary rating on the earth yearly. For Andy to have the ability to obtain this aim, within the period of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, it’s one other superb achievement.”
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In 2016, Murray celebrated his twenty ninth birthday when he defeated Novak Djokovic within the Rome Masters closing in what might have been his biggest ever match level
Recuperate from all accidents
“I believe it simply emphasised his starvation and need, dedication and resilience to by no means give in.
“I keep in mind when Andy’s profession led to Australia he was in a lot ache in his hip. Then the metallic hip was put in place – nobody actually comes again to skilled sport with a metallic hip!
“It simply emphasizes how resilient he’s, however how cussed he’s and he refuses to offer in. He is 37 years outdated now and he is nonetheless on the market competing.”
“I believe there isn’t any doubt he is a frontrunner. He is an inspiration, he is a job mannequin and he is given British tennis nearly an entire new identification.
“Turning into a Grand Slam champion and turning into world No. 1 is an unbelievable achievement and a troublesome process.”
Henman says Murray’s return from harm highlights his resilience and need
What’s subsequent for Andy Murray?
“What do I believe Andy Murray will do subsequent? Hopefully chill out! I do not essentially know what he’ll do, however he has a spouse and 4 children and hopefully he’ll have the ability to spend a while with them.
“He can benefit from the lack of construction, no video games, coaching and journey, and simply give himself just a little time to determine what he can do and what he needs to do subsequent, as a result of there might be lots of alternatives.
“I believe my recommendation can be do not rush into these areas. You continue to have loads of time and alternative.”
On what’s subsequent for Murray, Henman mentioned he hopes the Scot can chill out and relaxation
What’s Murray’s legacy?
“I believe success is about maximizing your potential and while you see Andy’s work ethic, his starvation and need, his drive and his aggressive spirit, it is completely phenomenal.
“I believe he’ll lastly have the ability to sit again and replicate on his unbelievable profession.
“I believe Andy has been a terrific ambassador for the lads’s and ladies’s video games. I believe his ethical compass has all the time been very spot on and I believe he is a terrific position mannequin.
“I believe his two Wimbledon titles [are his greatest achievement]. Discover out every thing concerned with being a British participant and competing in tournaments. For him to have the ability to cross the end line and win crucial occasion within the sport – twice for me is his biggest achievement.
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