July 28, 2024; Paris, France; Andy Murray (Nice Britain) competes in opposition to Daniel Taro (Japan) and Kei Nishikori (Japan) within the first spherical of the boys’s tennis doubles on the 2024 Paris Summer time Olympics at Roland Garros. Japan). Necessary Credit score: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports activities PARIS — Andy Murray and doubles accomplice Daniel Evans misplaced 6-2, 6-4 to People Taylor within the Olympic quarterfinals at Roland Garros on Thursday. · Freeze and Tommy Paul, whose illustrious profession is lastly over.
The 37-year-old Scot, thought-about one among Britain’s best athletes after successful Wimbledon twice and reaching world primary, introduced earlier than the Olympics that he would retire as soon as the competitors is over.
After withdrawing from singles whereas recovering from spinal cyst surgical procedure, he and Evans gained two rounds of doubles, saving a number of match factors in every spherical, elevating hopes for a golden remaining chapter of his profession.
They saved one other match level in opposition to the USA at Stade Suzanne Lenglen on Thursday, however the story ended with Evans’ long-range strike previous Fritz and Paul, ending with Murray ending fourth. hopes of an Olympic medal.
He gained singles titles in 2012 and 2016 and a blended doubles silver medal in 2012.
Murray’s remaining salute to the viewers acquired a standing ovation, with Fritz and Paul additionally becoming a member of within the ovation. Evans was visibly emotional and Murray had tears in his eyes as he waved to the group one final time and walked away.
“It was a incredible remaining,” Murray informed a crowd of media because the skies opened at Roland Garros. “Clearly, this isn’t an ideal ending.
“It might be nice to win a medal. However I really feel good. I am proud of the top end result. I am glad to have the ability to go to the Olympics and end the best way I did as a result of typically previously few years it has been unsure.
Murray, who performed in opposition to Serbian Novak Djokovic 36 instances throughout his profession, led the tributes.
“I’ve nothing however reward for him, he is an unbelievable competitor and one of many best fighters the game has ever seen,” Djokovic informed reporters after reaching the singles semifinals. “His combating spirit will encourage generations to return.”
Over the previous twenty years, Murray has been a number one determine in British tennis and has been tied with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic for a number of consecutive years as one of many high 4 tennis gamers.
His first breakthrough got here when he beat Federer to win the Olympic title in 2012, weeks after dropping to the Swiss within the Wimbledon remaining. Later that 12 months, he gained the U.S. Open.
In 2013, he ended Britain’s 77-year anticipate a Wimbledon males’s singles title by defeating Djokovic – a match watched by 17.3 million British tv viewers.
Three years later, he gained his second Wimbledon title and ended the 12 months ranked No. 1 on the planet. He additionally led Group GB to the Davis Cup title in 2015 and is the one participant (male or feminine) to win consecutive Olympic singles titles.
“Andy was the best tennis participant this nation has ever produced and a large in British sport,” LTA chief govt Scott Lloyd stated in a press release. “His contribution to the game was immense and has been of nice worth to all of us. It introduced a number of proud moments.”
Because the harm started to take its toll, Murray wanted career-saving hip substitute surgical procedure in 2019.
Murray’s resilience has shone by means of as he struggles to achieve his earlier heights, despite the fact that he has solely added one to the 45 ATP titles he had gained earlier than hip surgical procedure.
——Reuters, on-site media particular report
