Andy Murray weeps as glorious career ends with defeat at Paris Olympics (2024)

• Finished with 46 ATP singles titles and 3 ATP doubles titles.
• Won his first Olympic singles gold medal at London 2012, defeating Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer along the way. At 2016 Rio, he became the first tennis player ever, male or female to win consecutive singles gold medals at different Games.
• At the 2012 US Open, he broke a 76-year Grand Slam singles title wait for British men, winning in five sets over Djokovic.
• In 2013 he became the first British man in 77 years (since Fred Perry in 1936) to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon.
• He won Wimbledon again in 2016 and became the first British player male or female to win the singles more than once since Fred Perry’s hat-trick in 1936.
• In 2015, he led Great Britain to its first Davis Cup title in 79 years.
• Named BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year three times in four years (2013, 2015-16) – the only athlete ever to win three times.
• An 11-time major singles finalist.
• The youngest person to be knighted in modern times, at the age of 29 in the late Queen’s New Years Honours list for 2017.
• British No 1 for almost 12 years from July 2006-March 2018.

It’s been everything I thought and more. I love team events. The chance to play doubles at his last tournament, the effort to get on the court and really give it a go in the doubles.

It’s something I’ll cherish forever.

Saying goodbye is always difficult but I was also ready for that also. I knew it would come in the next few days, if not today then Saturday or Sunday.

I’m happy that it is the end. Huge thanks to all the fans. The support I’ve had over the years, particularly these last few weeks at Wimbledon and also here. I appreicated that.

We did the best we could have done. Today wasn’t a good match from our side. Taylor and Tommy played well. They returned well, served well. Dan and particulary me just didn’t play very well at the beginning of the match.

We found a way at the end to make it competitive and difficult for them but it wasn’t enough.

It’s been a fun week, created some great moments in the matches, particularly at the end of all three of them.

I just wish we could have done better.

By Oliver Brown
In every sense, Murray blazed his own trail. Far removed from tennis’s genteel bastions in the south of England, he grew up in Dunblane, with almost every tournament at least 300 miles away. And yet, despite this outsider status, not to mention the lack of any Scottish pedigree in his chosen passion, he swept into the All England Club and ended one of the most fabled curses in British sport.

Having watched him on Centre Court on that pristine summer’s day in 2013, I cannot think of a moment that stands comparison. Seventy-seven years, near enough the span of a human life: that was the burden of history pressing down on Murray as he finally banished a nation’s gnawing inferiority complex. It seemed too oppressive a burden for one man to shoulder alone. But this walking case study in sheer bloody-mindedness would have none of it, becoming the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift Wimbledon’s golden Challenge Cup.

Click here to read Oliver’s top 10.

The LTA have just announced that the main court at the Cinch Championships held at The Queen’s Club will be known as ‘The Andy Murray Arena’.

LTA Chief Executive, Scott Lloyd said:

Andy is the greatest tennis player ever to come from this country and a giant of British sport. His contribution to the game is immense and has bought us all so many moments of pride. He was relentless in his pursuit of excellence and had a single-minded determination to succeed.

His brilliance on court bought to an end the long wait for a British male singles winner at Wimbledon, brought home Olympic gold and silver medals and he was the driving force behind Britain’s 2015 Davis Cup success.

Anyone who ever saw him play knows he put his heart and soul into his performances on the court. His incredible work ethic and love for the sport was demonstrated by his repeated returns from injury, when many others would not have had the resolve. Perhaps equal to his on-court success was his attitude in championing equality and diversity right across the sport. He is a special role model for tennis in this country and beyond and a unique champion.

We are proud to name the arena at our tournament at the Queen’s Club after him. We are committed to delivering an infrastructure legacy working with Judy Murray on the Park of Keir project, a new tennis centre of national significance for Scotland and for its local community. We are, of course, keen to continue to work with Andy in the future, in whatever capacity he wishes - as British tennis is all the stronger for him.

• 3 Grand Slam titles
• 2 Olympic gold medals
• 14 Masters 1000 titles
• 46 ATP Tour singles titles
• A year-end No 1
• Only player with 7+ victories vs each of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic

Warm hugs between the players. The camera focuses on Murray. The crowd are chanting ‘Andy, Andy,’.

Murray walks out to the middle and applauds the crowd. He is in tears as he waves goodbye for the final time.

Great return by Evans and Paul can’t control the volley, 0-15. Paul overhead smash winner, 15-15.

Too good from Fritz, finding a first serve that beats Evans, 30-15. Murray backhand long, 40-15. Two match points.

Evans forehand return long. GAME SET MATCH USA!

Heartbreak for Murray.

GB just have to hold here. USA are understandably nervy. At the very least, make them win it on their serve.

Super serve down the T by Evans is unreturned, 30-15. Fritz finds the gap down the line with a backhand winner, 30-30.

Defensive Paul lob goes long, 40-30. Fritz goes after Evans’ second serve but gets it wrong, sending his forehand return wide.

A small lifeline for GB. Can they complete the comeback?!

Is this the last game for Murray as a professional tennis player, let’s find out...

Fritz overhead winner to start the game then a stretch volley winner, 30-0. Fritz forehand long, 30-15. Fritz volley into the net off a Murray backhand return, 30-30.

Defensive Evans lob goes long, match point USA. Murray is not done yet. An overhead smash winner keeps GB in the game at deuce.

What a rally. Evans and Murray are a wall at the net. USA can’t break through and Paul flicks a forehand wide. Unbelievable defence. Break point GB.

Fritz rescues USA with a ridiculous dig and Paul puts away the overhead smash, deuce. Fritz miscues a volley, second break point for GB.

Saved again by USA and Paul with a brilliant forehand winner down the line, deuce. Murray with a low, zippy slice into Paul’s backhand and the American nets, third break point.

Unreal reactions again by Fritz to meet a Murray backhand and it surprises the Briton, who nets. Fritz volley long after Murray goes right at him, fourth break point.

Murray doesn’t do enough with his backhand return, going straight at Fritz, who finishes easily. Deuce again.

Murray volley winner after great anticipation at the net, fifth break point.

Fritz overhead smash goes wide and GB break!

Murray is furious with himself after being caught in no-mans land and tamely netting a backhand, 0-30.

Too hot to handle for Murray when Fritz crushes a forehand return at him, three break points.

Murray double fault. Oh dear. USA break again and will serve for a place in the semi-finals.

Paul and Fritz have worked beautifully together tonight. No surprise really given they are being coached by doubles experts the Bryan Brothers.

But a forehand down the line by Evans is too hot for Paul and GB have a break point.

EVANS VOLLEY WINNER TO BREAK! That came out of nowhere.

Game on?!

Murray is caught flat footed and he volleys into the net, 15-30. Too much heat again on the groundstrokes by Fritz and Evans’ volley goes long, two break points.

Another scintillating return by Paul whizzes past Evans and USA wrap up the double break.

I think I can say this will be Murray’s last match as a tennis player...

Plenty of support for GB but they will need a miracle to turn things around here. USA move to 40-0 and on the brink of consolidating the break.

GB get it back to 40-30 but Evans pushes a backhand volley long and USA secure the hold.

Ominous times for GB as they fall to 0-40 when Evans nets a volley. Fritz puts a forehand return wide on the first.

Paul goes at Evans at the net, the Briton’s volley sits up nicely for Fritz to drill a forehand winner down the middle.

USA break.

Murray and Evans need to get ahead here to put some scoreboard pressure on the Americans. They just haven’t been allowed to play and everything is going USA’s way.

Evans has play on a Fritz return but opts to leave it and sadly for him the ball drops in, 15-15. But some quality first serves by Evans are unreturned and Team GB hold to start the set.

The crowd are desperate for GB to get going.

Speaking of tactics, the Americans have had a lot of joy chipping their returns high and slow over the net player, and thus forcing the server to hit a high backhand volley on their way into the net.

It’s a difficult shot to put away when both your opponents are at the back of the court.

Serving for the set, Paul finds a ridiculous angle with a cross court forehand which beats Evans for a winner.

Frustration for Murray as he goes long with another return, 30-0. At his peak, he is not missing so many returns.

Top spin second serve into Murray’s backhand and the former world No 1 sends the ball wide. Murray changes his racket. Two set points.

Fritz volley winner and USA complete a very clinical set of tennis. Work to do for GB to turn this around.

First double fault of the match by Fritz, 40-15. Then a forehand volley into the net. Is the door opening slightly for GB?

No. Murray misses another return and USA hold.

Evans holds. A shame for the British pair that we couldn’t say that at the start of the match, and had to wait for the whole first cycle of games to be completed. The Americans have got the Bryan brothers - doubles legends of the 2010s - in their player box, offering guidance. Earlier today, Paul said this was the first time he had ever gone into a doubles event with tactics.

Bear in mind that the Bryans also helped oversee the exit of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz lastnight, via a phenomenal showing from the other American pairing: doubles specialists Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek. At this rate, we could have four Americans in the doubles final, which would be very odd!

USA threaten another break as they take Team GB to 30-30 here. They are relaxed and playing with great clarity.

But a couple of very important first serves by Evans are unreturned and GB get up and running with their first game of the match.

The first set is quickly getting away from Team GB here. Fritz and Paul have been very solid in the opening stages.

Fritz stretches up high to execute a backhand overhead smash winner, 40-30. But Fritz is caught out at the net and volleys long, deuce.

Murray forehand return into the net and USA continue their momentum.

Low hanging fruit second serve by Murray and it is punished by Paul with a blistering forehand return winner down the line, break point.

Brilliant backhand return by Fritz, Murray does well to pick it up, Fritz hits a dipping backhand cross court and Murray can’t make the awkward volley.

USA break again.

Fritz and Paul are two of the better servers on the ATP Tour so Murray and Evans have their work cut on the returns. Murray forehand return into the net, 40-15.

Evans chips a return but the ball is easily volleyed away by Paul for a winner to consolidate the break.

Murray doesn’t get hold of a volley, hitting it at Paul, who reacts sharply to punch a volley into the open space, 30-30.

Evans pushes a volley long, break point USA. Evans serve and volleys, but the ball sitting up nicely for Fritz to hit a forehand winner.

USA breaks.

The players are on the court and warming up. A reminder that the USA are the third seeds in the tournament so they can’t be underestimated.

Will tonight be as dramatic as the previous two matches? Let’s find out!

Another late-evening outing for Murray and Evans on Court Suzanne Lenglen, where they almost feel like the headline act in a regular cabaret. Each time, the crowd thins out as we move towards sunset, and they end up playing in front of a half empty stadium.

But the Brits continue to turn out in force, and we can be confident of plenty of noise and atmosphere during this showdown with two talented Americans.

Fighting talk from Tommy Paul earlier today. I hope Murray has seen this and feels extra motivated tonight.

Should be a fun match. I think it’s Andy’s last event. Hopefully we can retire him, that would be pretty cool. But they’ve been saving match points left and right.

We’ve got to take care of the first match point because if they get that one…

Auger-Aliassime comes through for Canada, beating Norway’s Ruud 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.

He will now face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. But next up... it is Murray and Evans.

The doubles matches will take place after the men’s singles clash between Casper Ruud and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

After Ruud won a second set tie-break to force a third set decider, Auger-Aliassime leads 5-2 for Canada.

Hello and welcome to coverage of what could be Andy Murray’s last match as a tennis player.

Alongside Dan Evans, the Team GB duo have been forced to save seven match points on their way to the quarter-finals.

Victory tonight against America’s Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz would guarantee a medal match for Murray and Evans.

After beating Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, Murray said he cried happy tears as he sat on his chair with head in hands after the match.

“Obviously it’s unbelievably emotional,” said Murray, who is playing in his final event. “You’re obviously unbelievably happy and then, I don’t know why it happens, it’s like happy tears. I was really emotional at the end of the match.

“Obviously extremely happy, excited that we managed to get through and another amazing finish so it takes a lot out of you that sort of stuff. I’m glad we get a day off tomorrow.”

“I don’t think he (Murray) wants to go home does he?” Evans joked later.

“He’s amazing to play with. It’s an amazing atmosphere. To be a part of this is amazing regardless of what’s happening and I’m over the moon.”

Fritz and Paul are side by side in the world singles rankings at 12 and 13th in the world but Murray says belief is growing that they can produce something special.

“We know we need to perform at a really high level to go through but you build confidence by winning matches [saving match points],” said Murray, who won singles golds in 2012 and 2016 but pulled out of the singles this time.

“I think your opponents see that you’re coming back when you’re behind and that builds belief. But you can’t have that mentality of like, this is just going to happen. We need to be switched on for the next one and let’s see what happens.”