On the evening of July 4th, local time, Andy and Jamie Murray lost their first-round men’s doubles match at the 2024 Wimbledon to Riki Murakami and Michael Venus, 6-7(6)/4-6. For 37-year-old Andy Murray, this marked his final appearance at Wimbledon as a player. Following the match, the tournament organizers prepared a short yet solemn farewell ceremony for the “home hero.”
The ceremony, hosted by former BBC sports presenter and commentator Sue Barker, included a tribute video with an impressive lineup, featuring Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Williams, all paying heartfelt tributes to the star who shared the tennis stage with them.
A number of former Wimbledon champions and players were in attendance, including John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Lleyton Hewitt, and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, as well as current stars like Djokovic, Swiatek, Rune, and Murray’s fellow Britons Henman, Norrie, Draper, and Evans.
“It’s tough for me (to say goodbye to tennis) because I would love to continue playing, but I physically can’t,” Murray said in an interview. “Tennis is now taking too much of a toll on my body. All the injuries have accumulated to a point where they can’t be ignored anymore.”
“I wish I could play tennis forever; I love this sport, it has given me so much and taught me a lot over the years. I know I’ll use those lessons in life. But it’s hard to stop, and that makes it difficult,” he added.
Murray expressed gratitude to his wife, family, friends, and revealed that his two daughters were also present, though he hadn’t been aware of their presence until he saw them on a TV screen in the locker room before the match: “That was amazing. They’ve only been to one of my matches before, in Nottingham last year, and I didn’t even know they were there. I’m glad they could come today.”
The tribute video left Murray emotional, as he shared in the post-match press conference: “During the video, I felt a bit dizzy, knowing I had to speak right after. It’s hard to thank everyone you want to in that moment. Watching the video brought up so many emotions, of course, it was beautiful, but also quite overwhelming because I knew my tennis career was coming to an end, something I’ve loved and dedicated so much time to. It was really tough.”
Murray believes he could return to a level capable of winning matches on tour once he recovers from his back injury, but considering his physical condition, he acknowledges that retirement is inevitable.
“Before I sprained my ankle in Miami (earlier this year), I was in good shape. I believe I could still win on grass when I’m fully fit, but I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m ready to retire because I can’t give the performances I want. If my body allowed it, I’d keep playing,” he said.
For Murray, the pride in his career lies in his unwavering professionalism, regardless of successes or setbacks. “I’ve made mistakes, I’m not perfect, but I think I’ve done a great job staying committed, passionate, and dedicated every day, giving my all to tennis, through the highs and lows, victories and losses, and injuries. That’s what I’m most proud of,” he reflected.
In conclusion, Murray thanked the organizers for the ceremony and shared his upcoming plans: “They did a fantastic job, and I’m glad it’s all over. I’ll enjoy playing mixed doubles in a few days, which should be fun. After Wimbledon, I’ll go on vacation with my family, and then I’ll participate in the Olympics.”
Murray will team up with compatriot Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles, facing Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arévalo in the first round.
(Written and edited by Wang Fei)
