Andy Murray’s glittering tennis career drew to a close on Thursday as he and Dan Evans were knocked out in the Olympic men’s doubles quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
The British duo suffered a 6-2 6-4 defeat to the American pairing of Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz in what marks Murray’s final game before retiring.
It proved something of a fitting Murray finale, the 37-year-old producing one last reminder of his trademark defiance as he and Evans kept themselves in the fight to prolong a second set in which they had trailed 4-1.
It would be one hurdle too many for a pair that had remarkably rescued five straight match points in their opening round match before saving two more in the second round.
Murray departs tennis as a two-time Olympic champion, a three-time Grand Slam champion, a former world No 1 and arguably Britain’s greatest ever athlete.
Upon sealing the win Paul and Fritz joined the Roland Garros crowd in applauding Murray as he bid farewell to a sport in which he has cemented his legacy as an all-time great.
It comes weeks after Murray said goodbye to his home fans at Wimbledon, where he competed alongside brother Jamie in the doubles having elected against playing singles due to recent surgery.
Murray’s final match in pictures
Murray calls time on his career having overcome torrid episodes of injury setbacks, during which he had flirted with retirement on multiple occasions only to continue defying the odds.
At his best Murray had been as more prominent a thorn to the big three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as any player in the modern era, the unrelenting competitor with every shot in the book and a hunger few others could rival.
The latter stood the test of time, even through his injury blows, as Murray closed out his staggering career with a roller-coaster Olympic campaign.
Murray has long maintained that he would play on until his body said no; at Wimbledon he admitted it finally felt like the end, realising he could no longer compete at the level he wishes to.
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Sky Sports News’ Geraint Hughes reflects on Andy Murray’s career after the British legend’s career came to an end with defeat in the doubles quarter-finals at the Olympics.
Even here, even now, there was a flicker of more Murray magic when he and Evans threatened more late drama.
A set down, the pair trailed 4-0 and then 5-2 before rescuing a match point and winning the next two games to force the big-serving Fritz to wrap things up for good.
With that came the end of Murray’s time on court, the former Olympic champion looking to the sky, closing his eyes and waving to the adoring Roland Garros crowd as he processed a moment for which nothing, despite all the testing moments over the years, could prepare him.
I haven’t decided what the next chapter is yet
Speaking to the BBC after the final match of his career, Murray said: “It was a great run [in Paris] but we lost to two top players in Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. We would have had to play very well to win that match and we didn’t. It wasn’t to be.
“I feel good. I have been ready for this moment for the last few months. Since I had the operation on my back before Wimbledon, I knew it was the right time. I am looking forward to stopping.
“I feel lucky that I was able to come and compete here and I am really grateful for the effort Dan [Evans] put in to prepare as best as he could to give us a chance of having a great run.
“I don’t feel I am the person to say what my legacy is but I just know I gave as much as I could to the sport. I loved competing in the Olympic Games and for my country. These weeks are so special and I will definitely miss them.
“It would have been a fairy-tale ending to win a medal. It wasn’t to be but I have been proud to be part of Team GB.
“I have four children below the age of eight so lie-ins don’t happen! I can do whatever I want now but I want to go home and spend time with my family, be around my children.
“I haven’t decided what the next chapter is yet.”
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