Current:Home > StocksAndy Murray's tennis career comes to end with Olympics doubles defeat -EliteFunds
Andy Murray's tennis career comes to end with Olympics doubles defeat
View
Date:2025-04-13 08:34:27
PARIS — The great Andy Murray’s career ended on Suzanne Lenglen Court on Thursday evening, as Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul took out Murray and his partner Dan Evans, 6-2, 6-4.
Murray, arguably the greatest British sportsman in history, announced he would be leaving tennis after the Olympics due to the cumulative toll of numerous injuries.
Murray will best be remembered for twice winning Wimbledon, ending a 77-year drought of British men winning the event. But in many ways, his career is uniquely linked with the Olympics.
In 2012, Murray lost the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer – the fourth time he had gotten close to his first Grand Slam title but failed to close the deal. Criticism came down hard on him from the British press, who questioned his work ethic, his attitude and his toughness.
But everything changed at the London Olympics just a few weeks later when he turned the tables on Federer, beating him in the gold medal match on the very same Centre Court at Wimbledon. Shortly after that, Murray won the US Open.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
He went on to become a key part of the “Big Four” with Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal who dominated the sport for 15 years. Murray also repeated as the gold medal winner in Rio in 2016.
After reaching the No. 1 ranking at the end of that year, his body began to break down. The main culprit was his hip, which never really bounced back after he underwent surgery. Murray more or less announced his retirement at the 2019 Australian Open, but had another hip resurfacing procedure that allowed him to come back at the end of the year.
Though Murray never reached his previous heights, he fought his way back into the top 40 last year. More injury setbacks, and an inability to adapt his game to win points without relying on a taxing counterpunching style made it unrealistic for him to come back.
Murray returned from a back procedure so he could play Wimbledon one last time this year, but only in doubles with his brother Jamie. And at the Olympics, Murray’s body was not in any condition to play singles, but he managed to have a decent run with Evans to the quarterfinals.
At the end of the match, both Fritz and Paul clapped while the crowd sent him off with a standing ovation.
Fritz and Paul are now in the semifinals where they will face Matt Ebden and John Peers in the semifinals. They hope to join another American team of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek in the semifinals.
Almost exclusively singles players, Paul said he and Fritz had “one doubles practice” before the tournament and that he has never gone into a doubles match with “any sort of strategy at all.”
But he said sessions with US team coaches Bob and Mike Bryan – arguably the greatest men’s doubles pairing ever with 16 Grand Slam titles – have been helpful.
“It’s kind of cool going into doubles matches with an idea in your head,” Paul said. “They’re kind of telling me where to be a little bit and giving me the full coaching. It’s a different kind of doubles experience.”
veryGood! (12)
Related
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Why Luke Bryan Is Raising One Margarita to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Romance
- Why Sydney Sweeney Wanted a Boob Job in High School
- McDonald's CosMc's, Starbucks and Dunkin': How do their drinks compare in calories and sugar?
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Miranda Cosgrove Reveals Why She Doesn't Drink or Smoke
- Chelsea and Fulham win penalty shootouts to reach English League Cup semifinals
- UN resolution on Gaza hampered by issues important to US: cessation of hostilities and aid monitors
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Playing live, ‘Nutcracker’ musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple
Ranking
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Study: Abortions on TV remain unrealistic — but 'Morning Show' treatment was nuanced
- Monsanto ordered to pay $857 million to Washington school students and parent volunteers over toxic PCBs
- Céline Dion lost control over her muscles amid stiff-person syndrome, her sister says
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Why Luke Bryan Is Raising One Margarita to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Romance
- Germany protests to Iran after a court ruling implicates Tehran in a plot to attack a synagogue
- A Palestinian baby girl, born 17 days ago during Gaza war, is killed with brother in Israeli strike
Recommendation
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
Taylor Swift's Super Sweet Pre-Game Treat for Travis Kelce Revealed
Pistons are woefully bad. Their rebuild is failing, their future looks bleak. What gives?
Want to buy an EV? Now is a good time. You can still get the full tax credit and selection
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
2024 MLS SuperDraft: Tyrese Spicer of Lipscomb goes No. 1 to Toronto FC
Your oven is gross. Here's the best way to deep clean an oven with nontoxic items
Chileans eschew extremes in quest for new constitution and end up with the old one