Andy Murray reaches the end at last as Olympics defeat brings retirement

Andy Murray has played his final tennis match after bowing out of the Olympics men’s doubles with Dan Evans in a quarter-finals defeat to the American pair Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, bringing the career of an all-time British sporting great to an emotional but fitting conclusion.

Murray was in tears as the 37-year-old received a standing ovation in Paris before leaving the court for the last time, but was proud of how his final chapter unfolded and said he was ready to retire from the sport after a series of injuries in the latter stages of his 19-year career.

In a memorable run at the Olympics, Murray and Evans had saved seven match points across two extraordinary comebacks that postponed his retirement by a few days. His final chapter typified the same heart and resilience he displayed when ending Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s Wimbledon champion in 2013 in the victory that would define his career.

But with a shot at an Olympics medal suddenly within reach, Fritz and Paul were a step up in class. The Americans won 6-2 6-4 to reach the semi-finals and end Murray’s historic career, despite a spirited last effort when all looked lost to prolong the end even further.

“I knew that moment was coming and I was ready for it,” a composed Murray said later. “Obviously it was emotional because it’s the last time I will play a competitive match.

“But I am genuinely happy just now. I’m happy with how it finished. I’m glad I got to go out here at the Olympics and finish on my terms because at times in the last few years that wasn’t a certainty.”

Murray was told two months ago that he would be forced to miss Wimbledon and the Olympics after undergoing an operation to remove a spinal cyst. Murray found a typically blunt tone as he revealed:  “I wasn’t able to walk properly and my leg wasn’t functioning properly, and I was told if the cyst continues to grow and puts more pressure on the nerves, it turns into an emergency situation where can’t control your bladder and you’ll lose control of the other leg. That’s when I knew it was time.”

Murray fast-tracked his recovery to bid farewell to the two most important tournaments of his career, and although the injury denied Murray the ending he wanted at Wimbledon, where he withdrew from the singles, the Olympics brought a final display of some of  the qualities Murray’s career will be remembered by. “I think the last three matches have been a good kind of example of that really,” he said. “Even today, although we played a poor match, we made it really exciting at the end. We fought right till the death.”

Although Murray’s final match was played out in front of another sparse crowd on Suzanne-Lenglen at Roland Garros, he and Evans had already secured two wild wins this week to guarantee he would depart with some special memories.

Murray and Evans faced two singles players in Fritz and Paul, ranked 12 and 13 in the world respectively, who were a step up in class. The difference was clear from the very start as the American team won the first four games of the match on their way to winning the opening set.

An early break of serve followed at the start of the second set with Murray appearing considerably underpowered in comparison to Fritz and Paul. After a long period of battling injuries, Murray had already accepted the moment had come to retire, but the contrast here was also a reminder to everyone else that the time was right.

There was one more last stand, as Murray and Evans saved an eighth match point of their Olympic run and threatened to break back with some of their best tennis of the night. Suddenly, Murray and Evans found their fire and took the fifth break point to stay alive.

The end finally came on the ninth match point, as Evans went long on the forehand. When it arrived, Murray and Evans shared one last embrace. Then Murray took his moment, arms held high as the crowd chanted his name. By the time he exited the court, the tears were starting to form.

But Murray was at peace and found closure with his decision ahead of his final tournament and said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family and four young children.

“I’ll be away from the sport for a few months, maybe longer,” he said. “ I’ll be at home and assess what my options are and what I fancy doing. And if that’s nothing, and it’s being at home and just being with my family and being a dad, that’s also something I really look forward to. That’s what I want to do immediately.”