Andy Murray’s Career Ends At Paris Olympics
Andy Murray’s great career ended at the 2024 Paris Olympics — but not before the usual fingernail-biting drama we have come to expect from him. On the clay at Roland Garros, Murray and his partner Dan Evans somehow came back to win their first two matches in the men’s doubles at the Games. Surviving match points against them in both. But, against American opponents Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, Murray and Evans couldn’t summon up a third great comeback, succumbing 6–2, 6–4 in the quarter-finals.
Murray left the court in Paris in tears. His partner Dan Evans was in tears. BBC presenter Clare Balding was in tears. This writer too was emotional. Andy Murray is certainly in the conversation as to who is Britain’s greatest-ever sportsman.
Britain’s Greatest Male Tennis Player Since The War
Two Wimbledon singles titles, a US Open singles title, two Olympic golds and the star of Britain’s first Davis Cup win since 1936. Andy Murray achieved things in his career that no other male British tennis player since the War has got close to.
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Part of men’s tennis Big Four a decade ago, Andy Murray was up there with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for a short time. But injuries left Murray increasingly unable to compete with that elite trio — three of the greatest tennis players of all-time.
Now a popular sporting figure in Britain, Andy Murray’s emotional interview with Sue Barker after his Wimbledon final defeat in 2012 changed things. Murray’s tearful reaction endeared him to the nation. Before the 2012 final, Murray hadn’t always been seen in such a positive light. He had followed clean cut Tim Henman as Britain’s biggest tennis star, and Murray was, unfairly, often seen as a grumpy Scot.
Recovering from that 2012 Wimbledon loss to Roger Federer, Andy Murray showed his grit soon after. At the London 2012 Olympics, Murray won gold, defeating Roger Federer in the final. That galvanised him, and 2012 would also see Murray become the first Brit to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry in 1936. At the 2012 US Open, Murray defeated Novak Djokovic.
A Magical Day In July
2013 saw one of the greatest moments in British sporting history. A British man hadn’t won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Roger Taylor got close. Tim Henman got close. But on a July day (July tends to be a good month for British sporting achievement), Andy Murray won Wimbledon. It didn’t seem real, and more so as Murray’s opponent was arguably the greatest tennis player of all-time, Novak Djokovic.
Andy Murray was to win the Davis Cup with Britain in 2015, Wimbledon again in 2016, and Olympic gold again — in Rio in 2016. Murray was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year three times — in 2013, 2015 and 2016. No other British sports personality has won the award more than twice.
So, alas, we’ll never hear “Let’s go Andy, let’s go” again. Thanks for the memories, Andy.
