Andy Murray will call time on his long and glittering career in a month. The legendary Brit was desperate for a dream Wimbledon farewell at his final Grand Slam – but it was far from the fairytale conclusion he deserved.
Just days after undergoing back surgery to remove a painful cyst, Murray vowed to put his battered, creaking body through one more gruelling battle at his home Grand Slam. The two-time Wimbledon champion may be 37, but his appetite for victory remains as strong as when he hoisted the pineapple-adorned trophy in 2013 and 2016.
Yet his dream was shattered over the past fortnight – one heartbreaking setback after another. Initially scheduled to face Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, Murray’s surgery forced him to withdraw from his last Wimbledon men’s singles campaign.
He partnered up with his brother Jamie, hoping that success in the men’s doubles would provide the perfect end to an illustrious career. That too ended in disappointment as they suffered a first round exit.
Accompanied by his two eldest daughters, his wife, and parents, the Scot shed tears in an emotional post-match farewell ceremony hosted by Sue Barker. She talked him through his career while former rivals such as Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic gave heartfelt messages.
It was a bittersweet moment for the Murray family and the thousands watching, with all the anticipation turning towards his final performance alongside British tennis’ rising star Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles.
Raducanu put any hope of one last Murray hurrah to bed, with her last-minute statement reading: “Unfortunately I woke up with some stiffness in my right wrist this morning, so I have taken the very tough decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles. I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy, but I’ve got to take care.
The 21-year-old, who has been grappling with injuries herself, made the call to prioritise her singles hopes. That effectively ended Murray’s Grand Slam career for him as the rules state it was too late for him to secure another partner.
Raducanu faced backlash for chasing her own ambitions over teaming up with her childhood idol – a move that ultimately did not work in her favour as she was knocked out by Lulu Sun in the fourth round on Sunday with a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. One broadcaster called the decision “astonishing,” before adding: “It means Murray has played his last match at Wimbledon. Oh dear.”
Judy Murray, Andy’s outspoken mother, appeared to criticise Raducanu’s move by responding to the tweet on X with: “Yes, astonishing.”
Judy later clarified her stance, stating: “Not sure anyone understands sarcasm these days. Pretty sure the scheduling will have played a major part in any decision making.
Raducanu, meanwhile, has defended her decision not to play, insisting: “I don’t think it was a mistake because I was feeling fine, then [Saturday] morning just woke up with stiffness. I have to prioritise myself, my singles and my body. I think it was the right decision. I stand by the decision. Obviously it was a tough decision, though, because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.”
When quizzed on Judy’s remarks, Raducanu said she hadn’t seen any reaction to her pulling out but stressed that people are “entitled to their opinions”.
“It was a very difficult decision,” Raducanu admitted. “Of course, I didn’t want to take his last match away from him, but at the end of the day I think a lot of the players in a similar situation would have done the same thing.”
Despite an anticlimactic Wimbledon farewell, Murray’s spirits will be buoyed by his selection for Team GB in the upcoming Olympics – his last ever tennis tournament. While a third gold medal in Paris might be too tall an order, his presence on court will undoubtedly excite tennis enthusiasts worldwide.
Murray’s plans after Paris remain unclear for now, though he assured Barker of his return to Wimbledon next year, albeit not as a competitor. He dismissed the idea of a future in sports commentary, recalling his experience in 2018 during Nadal’s intense five-set quarter-final.
“I didn’t [enjoy it],” he laughed. “A commentary box is tiny, and it was a long time to be in there and I didn’t enjoy it that much.
Murray did hint at another potential avenue, saying he would “probably be more comfortable sitting up there in a coaching box”. He is already a mentor to multiple players, and his vast knowledge and standing among current players ensures he will make a success of it, should he pursue a coaching career.
Whatever happens at the Olympics will cause Murray a great deal of pain when he finally leaves the court for the last time – an emotional strain matched only by his physical burden.
“It is hard because I would love to keep on playing, but I can’t,” he said. “Physically, it’s too tough now. All of the injuries, they have added up, they have not been insignificant. I want to play forever, I love the sport, it has given me so much.”
