TENNIS – Briton Andy Murray, the first male tennis player to claim two Olympic singles gold medals, said yesterday that he will play the final event of his glittering career at the Paris Games before heading into retirement.
Murray, widely regarded as one of Britain’s all-time great sportsmen, won gold in London 2012 beating Roger Federer in the final and successfully defended his title in Rio four years later defeating Juan Martin del Potro.
The 37-year-old, who in 2013 ended a 77-year wait for a British men’s singles champion at Wimbledon and won the trophy again in 2016, had previously said that he was unlikely to continue his career beyond this year.
“Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament @Olympics,” Murray said on social media, alongside a picture of himself on the Rio podium.
“Competing for Britain has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get to do it one final time.”
Murray, who was knighted in 2017 for his services to tennis and charity, was hailed by International Tennis Federation chief Dave Haggerty for his contributions.
“Sir Andy has lived and breathed the values of tennis throughout his long career, championing equality and helping to send the message that our sport is for everyone,” Haggerty said.
“We will of course remember his two Olympic golds; his Grand Slam wins and his never-say-die attitude on the court. We will also remember his Davis Cup victory with Great Britain in 2015, helping his team to the title for the first time since 1936.
“While this wonderful chapter of his career is now drawing to a close, we know that Sir Andy’s love of tennis will see him continue to be involved in helping to grow and develop our sport globally.”
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