Andy Murray's career highs and lows after announcing retirement following Paris 2024 exit


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest news on the 2024 Paris Olympics

Andy Murray called time on his career following his exit in the men's doubles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Murray and partner Dan Evans lost their quarter-final against Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-4.

A clearly emotional Murray waved to the Roland Garros crowd and signed autographs before walking off for the final time as a professional.

The Briton bows out with three grand slam titles, two Olympics gold medals and a host of other achievements to reflect on with immense pride.

We take a look back on his rollercoaster career.

The highs

Summer of 2012

Only a month after losing his fourth Grand Slam final, to Roger Federer at Wimbledon, Murray got his revenge over the Swiss great to claim Olympic gold on Centre Court.

Murray rode that momentum into the US Open, claiming a five-set victory over Novak Djokovic to end Britain's 77-year wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion.

First Wimbledon title

On a glorious summer's day at SW19 in 2013, Murray once again faced Djokovic in a Grand Slam final.

Murray took the match in straight sets, serving out a nerve-jangling final game to become the first home grown champion at England's fabled Grand Slam - the first since Fred Perry in 1936.

Davis Cup glory

While Murray would go on to claim three men's Grand Slam titles, arguably his most extraordinary accomplishment was winning the Davis Cup in 2015 for Britain almost single-handed. Murray won an unprecedented 11 out of 12 rubbers across four ties.

It was Britain's 10th Davis Cup triumph but their first in 79 years.

Wimbledon and second Olympics gold

Murray reunited with Ivan Lendl, his coach and mentor for his earlier Grand Slam triumphs, to claim his third major title at Wimbledon in 2016, this time beating Milos Raonic in the final.

A month later Murray did what no player had achieved by retaining his Olympic crown at the Rio Games, defeating Juan Martin Del Potro in the final.

World No 1

The season of Murray’s career had a golden ending when a run of five straight tournament victories, culminating in victory at the ATP Finals in London, carried him to the world No 1 ranking.

Murray held the position for 41 weeks – some achievement in an era of Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Return from hip surgery

Murray broke new ground by becoming the first singles player to return to the elite level of the sport following a hip resurfacing operation. The Scot put years of pain behind him to climb back into the world’s top 50 and reach four ATP Tour finals, winning an emotional 46th title in Antwerp in 2019 with victory over Stan Wawrinka.

Lows

Knee trouble

Murray feared his career might be over before it began when knee pain interrupted his training in Spain at the age of 16. He was diagnosed with a bipartite patella but was able to manage it effectively.

Back surgery

Murray’s first time under the knife came in 2013 when he decided a troublesome back problem needed to be fixed by surgery. The Scot was only sidelined for three months but it took him a long time to fully recover.

Split with Lendl

While Murray was working his way back from back surgery in 2014, he was dealt a crushing blow when his mentor Ivan Lendl decided he no longer wanted to continue their relationship. Lendl, himself an eight-time Grand Slam champion, was not prepared to commit to the number of weeks on tour that Murray required.

Their reunion in 2016 helped the Scot win more of the sport’s biggest prizes.

Andy Murray, left, with Ivan Lendl before the Australian Open in 2014. Getty
Andy Murray, left, with Ivan Lendl before the Australian Open in 2014. Getty

Hip problem

The low that overshadowed all the rest began after the French Open in 2017, when Murray found he was no longer able to recover from chronic hip pain that he had been managing. A resurfacing operation in 2019 that coated the joint in metal eventually allowed him to return.

Losing run

Murray pushed on through his mid-30s determined that he could still match the best and achieve his goals. But that belief gradually drained away and a run of nine defeats from 10 matches at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 was the worst of his career.

The biog:

From: Wimbledon, London, UK

Education: Medical doctor

Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures 

Favourite animals: All of them 

FA CUP FINAL

Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')

Watford 0

Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman

Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870

Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed PDK

Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

Ballon d’Or shortlists

Men

Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)

Women

Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)

 

 

Updated: August 02, 2024, 9:35 AM