British tennis great Sir Andy Murray had already announced this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris would be his last tournament.
Andy Murray has joked he “never even liked tennis anyway” after his professional career ended with defeat in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s doubles.
The prime minister has been leading the tributes to the British tennis great who announced prior to this summer’s Games that it would be his last tournament.
Twenty-one years after his first professional match and 19 since he announced his talent to the world at Wimbledon as a teenager, Murray’s hopes of a medal-winning swansong evaporated in a 6-2 6-4 loss to American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Murray retires after winning three Grand Slam singles titles, two Olympic gold medals and one Davis Cup during arguably the most competitive era in men’s tennis.
He also achieved a world number one ranking.
He appeared at the Olympics weeks after having back surgery due to an injury he suffered at Queen’s.
Murray said after retiring on Thursday evening: “A few months ago I wasn’t looking forward to it. Generally when you retire it’s a celebration but I love playing tennis so I wasn’t looking forward to that moment.
“But then I had the surgery at Queen’s and at that point I was struggling to walk, it really was an emergency surgery.
“So I’ve been looking forward to the end since then because physically it’s been tough because I’m not able to move around the court and do what I want to do physically and therefore can’t compete at the level that I want to.
“The last year or 18 months I was worried about what I would do after but now I’m just looking forward to the end.”
Reflecting on his achievements, he said: “I’m proud of my career. I worked really really hard to achieve the results I did at a really difficult time to win the major titles. I’m proud. I gave it a good go. How my body has finished up shows I’ve put it through a lot. So I’m looking forward to a rest now.”
He also posted on X: “Never even liked tennis anyway.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer listed some of Murray’s career achievements this evening before adding: “But more than that, thanks @andy_murray for two decades of phenomenal entertainment and sportsmanship. A true British great.”
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “Sir Andy Murray is Scotland’s greatest ever sportsman, and his achievements during one of the toughest eras in tennis history will mark him down as a true sporting legend.”
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has also paid tribute to Murray’s “incredible career” following his retirement, while the Queen’s Club in London has announced centre court will be renamed in his honour from next year.
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.”
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2024 Wimbledon champion, wrote on X: “It was a privilege to share the court with you, Andy! Congratulations on a legendary career and for being an example to all. You will always have a fan here!”
Just a few weeks before the Olympics, Murray’s Wimbledon career came to an end after he was first knocked out of the men’s doubles with brother Jamie, and then his mixed partner Emma Raducanu pulled out after suffering a stiff wrist.
In an emotional farewell, Murray said goodbye to Wimbledon on a packed Centre Court with his brother by his side and his family and friends in the stands.
That would have been a fitting way to end his career but Murray, who has always relished team competitions, wanted a final tilt at the Olympics, the stage where he has managed to upstage his big rivals Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic by winning back-to-back singles golds.