An Emotional Farewell: Andy Murray Bids Adieu to Professional Tennis at Paris 2024 Olympics

 

An Emotional Farewell: Andy Murray Bids Adieu to Professional Tennis at Paris 2024 Olympics

Andy Murray cried. Dan Evans cried. Even BBC television presenter Clare Balding cried.

In the moments after Murray's illustrious career came to an end at the Paris 2024 Olympics, there was an outpouring of emotion at Roland Garros. It was felt by Murray, his British team-mates, and thousands of adoring fans chanting his name. Across a nation, many experienced the bittersweet farewell to one of its greatest sporting icons, a sentiment encapsulated by Balding's tearful reaction.

"Obviously, it was emotional because it's the last time I will play a competitive match," Murray said, his mother Judy applauding him from the stands. "But I am genuinely happy just now. I'm happy with how it finished."

Murray's career has been punctuated by public displays of emotion. He famously cried on Wimbledon's Centre Court after losing to Roger Federer in the 2012 final, a moment that endeared him to a wider British audience. "This isn't going to be easy..." he said to Sue Barker that day before the tears flowed.

Before that, he teared up after losing the 2010 Australian Open final to Federer, quipping he could "cry like Roger... it's a shame I can't play like him." His first Grand Slam title and subsequent victories were followed by injuries that brought more tears. In 2018, he sobbed uncontrollably under his towel at the Washington Open, battling hip pain. The eve of the 2019 Australian Open saw him break down in a news conference, revealing he might retire due to impending hip resurfacing surgery.

Five and a half years later, after squeezing every last drop out of his comeback, Murray is finally content to call it a day. "It's been really hard. Physically, pain-wise, I feel bad," he admitted. "Physically, I can obviously go on the court and perform at a level that's competitive. We were close to getting in the medal rounds here. That's OK, but 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. I know that now is the right time and physically."

After the initial tears at Roland Garros had dried, a contemplative Murray revealed how tough the final few months had been. An ankle injury in March disrupted what was already planned to be his final season, and when he did manage to race back, his participation in an emotional goodbye to Wimbledon came under threat as he needed back surgery to remove a cyst.

Murray had long conceded he was unlikely to have a "perfect ending" but admitted he "fast-tracked his rehab" to play at the Olympics. "I’m glad I got to go out here and finish on my terms," he said. "At times in the last few years, that wasn't a certainty. And even when I first went to have my scan on my back, the issue that I had with it, I was told that I wouldn’t be playing at the Olympics and I wouldn’t be playing at Wimbledon. So I feel lucky I got that opportunity to play here and have some great matches and create amazing memories."

Murray means a lot of different things to many people: a sporting icon who has taken British tennis to new heights, an advocate for gender equality in a male-dominated sport, and an all-around decent guy with acerbically dry humor. His droll personality shone through shortly after he finished speaking to the media. "Never even liked tennis anyway," he wrote on social media. The bio on his X account had also been changed from 'I play tennis' to 'I played tennis.'

Some loved him. Some never understood him but were eventually won over. Some have never gotten him at all. "He’s a class act and has been for years for British tennis and world tennis," said Evans. "He has spoken up on matters other people wouldn't speak about. He's a good guy."

As the curtain falls on Murray's career, his legacy as one of the greatest and most influential tennis players of his generation is firmly secured. His journey, filled with triumphs, tears, and tenacity, will continue to inspire future generations of athletes and fans alike.