LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Andy Murray of Great Britain reacts as he plays with Jamie Murray of Great Britain against Rinky Hijikata and John Peers of Australia in the Gentlemen’s Doubles first round match during day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Francois Nel | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
Andy Murray has announced his retirement, saying the Paris Olympics will be his “last ever tennis tournament”.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who is the only man to have won two Olympic golds in the sport, made the announcement in a post on X.
Sir Andy was denied a Wimbledon farewell in the singles earlier this month, pulling out due to surgery on a spinal cyst just a week before it began.
He entered the doubles with brother Jamie but lost in the first round.
Murray was also lined up to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu – however a wrist problem forced her to withdraw to safeguard her singles campaign.
The 37-year-old memorably ended a long wait for British tennis when he won Wimbledon in 2013, having been beaten in the final the year before in emotional scenes.
He repeated the success in 2016 having won his first grand slam at the US Open in 2012.
Murray’s Olympic wins came in London in 2012, when he beat Roger Federer in the final, and at Rio in 2016, and he reached his highest ranking of world number one in the same year, going on to claim a total of 46 titles.
His 11 Grand Slam final appearances is the equal 9th highest for a male in the open era and he has similar top 10 places for semi- and quarter-final appearances.
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A hip injury hampered his career for several years and while he fought back into the top 50 by 2022, he hasn’t been able to rejoin the elite and has also struggled with back and ankle problems.
After losing in the Wimbledon doubles a few weeks ago, he said he was ready to call it a day.
“I know that it’s time now. Yeah, I’m ready for that,” he admitted.
Sir Andy will now be hoping to go out on a high in his fifth Olympics, where he’ll play singles and doubles (with Dan Evans) in a best of three-set format.
The competition starts on 27 July at French Open venue Roland Garros, with Murray finding out his opponents in Thursday’s draw.
He’s not among the top 16 seeds however, meaning he could get a tough match against one of the favourites.
Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter and Dan Evans are also representing Team GB in the singles.