Andy Murray could very well go down as the most underrated tennis player of all-time. Nothing about his loss on Thursday in the 2024 Summer Olympics men’s doubles competition will change any of that. Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz took care of business against Murray and Dan Evans 6-2, 6-4, putting an end to Murray’s career in the quarterfinal round.
To still be competing on the Olympic stage in Paris at age 37 given all the injuries he’s endured over the years is a testament to Murray’s competitiveness and resilience. We’re talking about a guy who reached world No. 1 status in an era shared with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. You know, the best hard court player ever, the best grass court player ever, and the aptly-nicknamed King of Clay.
Murray even rattled off two Wimbledon titles in 2013 and 2016 to back up his Grand Slam breakthrough at the 2012 U.S. Open. He was a finalist at Roland Garros in 2016 and a five-time finalist at the Australian Open. Imagine if the timing of his career was ever so slightly different. I guess you could say that about Murray’s other three GOATed contemporaries, but still.
Anyway, Murray bowed out of tennis with class and humor on social media and it seemed funny enough to post about.
Never even liked tennis anyway.
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 1, 2024
Andy Murray’s bio immediately changing from I play tennis to I played tennis 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/eFUrZ3GRZi
— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) August 1, 2024
A lot of tributes came pouring in from the tennis world, including from Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz, who’s on a collision course with Djokovic for the singles gold medal match this year. Murray actually won the gold at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games, beating Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro in London and Rio respectively.
Farewell, Sir Andy Murray
Five-time Olympian, three-time Olympic medallist and British sporting legend. pic.twitter.com/smjNrY5uwg
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 1, 2024
Big 4 eternity ✨
Thank you @andy_murray 🙏#Tennis pic.twitter.com/UPpBOSCYAa
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) August 1, 2024
1001 singles matches
739 victories
105 top 10 wins
46 ATP titles
41 weeks as World No. 1
29 wins over the Big 3
14 Masters 1000 titles
11 Grand Slam finals
3 Grand Slam titles
2 Olympic Gold medals
1 @andy_murrayThank you, Sir Andy 💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/SQyNgA2hqV
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 1, 2024
One of the greatest champions in recent memory 👑 🏆
Reliving every championship winning moment in @andy_murray's glittering career! pic.twitter.com/aJvXVlIY7d
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 1, 2024
It was a privilege to share the court with you, Andy! 🥹🙏🏻 Congratulations on a legendary career and for being an example to all. You will always have a fan here! ❤️ @andy_murray
📸 Getty pic.twitter.com/QCNRERPMIw
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) August 1, 2024
A story we’ll never tire of reliving.
Andy Murray’s #Wimbledon journey – in his own words ✨ pic.twitter.com/WjKZvoBfVo
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 1, 2024
Can’t say enough about Murray and the epic heights he reached. There might even be an undercurrent of sincerity about “not liking tennis”, because most of us with far less mental fortitude would likely struggle to continue pressing on with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal as contemporaries. It’s wildly impressive that he was successful as he was under those circumstances.
One accomplishment Murray has above all of them: No man has ever successfully defended the Olympic gold medal in singles. That triumph in 2012 in front of London’s friendly crowd set the stage for his first Grand Slam title at that year’s U.S. Open, where he had to knock off Djokovic in the final.
Congrats to Andy Murray for everything. BEAST.
