Andy Murray Wimbledon farewell tour begins with loss in doubles with brother
by The Associated Press, https://www.facebook.com/, https://www.facebook.com/BusinessMirror/ · BusinessMirror- The Associated Press
- July 5, 2024
- 2 minute read
LONDON — There were tears from Andy Murray. Standing ovations from the Centre Court crowd. A video tribute replete with messages from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams. And, yes, a doubles match Murray played alongside his brother Thursday, all part of the first stop on the two-time Wimbledon singles champion’s farewell tour at a tournament that meant so much to him.
The Murrays lost, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in the first round of men’s doubles against Rinky Hijikata and John Peers — but the result was, truly, beside the point on this evening.
“The match itself, it was tough, physically. It was hard for me. … I was fortunate I was even able to get on the court to play,” said Murray, who had surgery to remove a cyst from his spine less than two weeks ago, forcing him to withdraw from singles.
“It was pretty emotional,” Murray said about the postmatch tribute. “Watching the video was nice, but hard as well, for me. Because you know it’s coming to the end of something that you absolutely loved doing for such a long time. So that was difficult.”
It was the first time a men’s doubles first-round match was played in the event’s main stadium in nearly 30 years, a fitting way for him to begin to say goodbye — and for his many fans to offer their thanks and well wishes, too.
Murray, a 37-year-old from Scotland, has said he will head into retirement after playing at the All England Club, where he is also entered in mixed doubles with 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu, and the Paris Olympics, which begin later this month.
“I’m ready to finish playing,” Murray said, “because I can’t play to the level I want to anymore.”
Murray occasionally fidgeted with his back and looked a tad uncomfortable while playing, but he also let out a celebratory scream after hitting a forehand return winner to go up a break at 2-0 in the second set, the type of shot that helped him reach No. 1 in the rankings.
Image credits: AP
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