Farewell To a Champion: Andy Murray Retires a True Great of Men’s Tennis

With Andy Murray retiring from professional tennis after giving his fans their usual roller-coaster ride during his exploits at the Paris Olympics, now seems a good time to look back at the achievements of the Scotsman, who will not only go down as one of the best tennis players ever, but also a British sporting icon.

Andy Murray announced his arrival to the tennis world with his appearance at Wimbledon 2005. He reached the third round taking David Nalbandian, the 2002 Wimbledon runner-up to five sets. In fact, Murray was two sets up before his body broke down, allowing the Argentine came back.

What was clear from that tournament though, was that Murray had all the shot variation and court craft to be a major force on the tour, he just did not yet have the physical prowess to compete in the men’s game. How he set about changing that would play a major part in what he would achieve later in his career.

Intense training blocks in the stifling conditions of Miami were used to turn Murray into one of the best athletes on tour, whereby he could use his physicality and stamina in unison with his superior tennis IQ to defeat his opponents.

Now possessing the physical attributes needed to compete, Murray set about trying to place himself amongst tennis’ elites, the so-called “Big Three” Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic. In 2008 he would win his first Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati defeating Djokovic, and make his first Grand Slam Final at the US Open where he faced Roger Federer. Federer defeated him in straight sets and from that US Open until the US Open in 2012 Murray would lose a further three Grand Slam Finals, two to Federer and one to Djokovic, winning just one set in his first four Grand Slam Finals.

Coming back from adversity and devastating losses are also hallmarks of Murray’s career, and in 2012 he finally achieved what all the hard work and setbacks had been preparing him for. At the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, with eight-time Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl now his coach Murray faced Federer in his first Wimbledon Final. He took the first set but lost in four, as he fell at the final hurdle yet again in a Grand Slam.

Just a few weeks later however, the twenty-five-year-old Murray was back at Wimbledon as he represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. He made it all the way through to the Gold Medal match, where he faced Roger Federer once again on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. The outcome would be different on this occasion, as Murray secured his Gold Medal.

He would then follow up the Gold Medal with even greater success later that summer, winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2012 US Open defeating Novak Djokovic in the decider. With that Grand Slam and his Gold Medal, Murray had firmly placed himself at the top table of men’s tennis alongside the Big Three.

2013 would see Murray win Wimbledon for the first time, thus becoming Britain’s first Men’s Singles Champion since Fred Perry in 1936, ending the seventy-seven year wait for a men’s champion.

Murray would create more history by winning the Davis Cup for Britain in 2015, before winning Wimbledon again in 2016, the greatest year of Murray’s tennis career. Murray defeated Milos Raonic of Canada in the Final before becoming the first player, male or female to win two consecutive Olympic Singles Gold Medals, at Rio 2016.

His remarkable run in 2016, which also included making the Finals in Australia and at Roland Garros saw him on the verge of becoming world No 1 for the first time. He achieved the No 1 status after winning the Paris Masters, but to achieve the year end world No 1 position, he had to win the ATP Tour Finals in London. He did this by defeating Djokovic in the Final, becoming the first man to win a Grand Slam, the World Tour Finals, an Olympic Gold medal and a Masters 1000 title in the same calendar year.

That historic win was to be his last great hurrah at the top table of men’s tennis however, as injuries took over after that. In the end, the extensive endeavours made by Murray to compete with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic had taken their toll on his body, including hip issues which ultimately led to him having a metal hip inserted. He continued trying to play over the last number of years until perhaps fittingly, he announced that Wimbledon 2024 and Paris 24 would be the final tournaments of his glittering career.

His list of achievements including 3 Grand Slams, 14 Masters 1000 titles, Davis Cup, back to back Olympic Gold medals, 41 consecutive weeks as world No 1 and 46 ATP Tour level trophies mark Murray down as a great of the modern era.

His career has been defined by his grit, class and love of the sport, everyone knowing that he has contributed enormously to the greatest ever era of men’s tennis.

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✒️ Liam Lacey – Tennis and GAA Betting Expert

Liam Lacey is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA, horse races, and football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also). Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and international football, offering expert opinions and match previews and predictions. Occasionally, even getting some right!