By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday July 4, 2024
Andy Murray’s glorious Wimbledon career isn’t quite over yet – he’s still scheduled to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu – but the two-time champion is getting close to the end. And, properly, he was given a perfect send-off on Thursday evening in the hallowed tennis cathedral after he and his brother Jamie Murray lost their first-round doubles match to Rinky Hijikata and John Peers on Centre Court.
Never mind the doubles this moment was about a singular talent.
With tennis luminaries in presence, Murray gave a long interview to British broadcasting and sporting icon Sue Barker, in which he talked through some of the most memorable moments of his career.
Stars of tennis present and past lined Centre Court: Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, all there to pay tribute, as a video featuring Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams rolled (watch it above, and see the full interview below the jump).
There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, as Murray shared his thoughts in the fading (and fitting) light of Centre Court. He spoke on winning Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016 (he was a bundle of nerves in 2013 and didn’t enjoy himself, but in 2016 he cut loose and ended up vomiting in a taxi after a long night of partying), as well as memories of his first date with his wife Kim Sears (he awkwardly asked her for her email, and later vomited on court when she came to watch him play for the first time, at the US Open).
He also talked of his biggest rivals: “They weren’t the easiest guys to get past. I was obviously incredibly fortunate to play in this time and I think all tennis fans have been lucky to witness what they’ve gone on to achieve. It’s been incredible to watch what they’ve done, it’s been incredible to be a part of some of the matches and major championships over the years and I was fortunate to manage to get through them a couple of times in big moments – what a time to be on the tour.”
And he spoke of the importance of his family, and how, reluctantly, he is looking forward to spending more time with them: “She’s been amazing support to me and to my whole family, and she’s the best mom,” he said of his wife. “Unfortunately in a couple months she’s going to have to see me every day. Things might be rocky for a while, so hopefully we can stick it out. I’m looking forward to the rest of our lives.”
And then there was the tennis. Something that Murray took immense pride in and the thing that he desperately doesn’t want to stop doing. It is with deep, solemn regret that Murray folds up the tent of his iconic career. The man that broke the curse of Fred Perry after 77 long years just can’t get his body to behave.
“I’m ready to finish playing,” he later said in a press conference. “I don’t want that to be the case. I would love to play, like I said, forever. But today, even though it was a doubles match where physically it’s obviously not as demanding, it’s still really hard for me. My serve speeds and everything are like so far behind where they usually would be. I’m sure that would come back with time once I recover from the injury and everything. Yeah, this year’s been tough with the ankle, then obviously the back surgery, obviously the hip.”
And thus, one of the greatest players of the greatest generation, is nearly finished at Wimbledon. There will be the Olympics (we hope), but not much more.
Sad, but true. After fighting it for so long Murray seemed almost relieved to make peace with his new reality.
“That’s something that, yeah, I guess is a bit out of my control,” he said. “If I knew my body was going to be able to do it, I would play — there’s nothing about the sport that I hate and I’m like, I don’t want to do it anymore for this reason. I like the traveling. I love the competition, practicing, trying to get better, all those things.
“Yeah, I know that it’s time now. Yeah, I’m ready for that.”
