Sir Andy Murray has bid farewell to tennis after hopes of winning a medal evaporated after he and his doubles partner Dan Evans suffered a 6-2, 6-4 Olympic loss to American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Shortly after the defeat, in true Sir Andy humorous fashion, he jokingly posted on X: “Never even liked tennis anyway.”
Never even liked tennis anyway.
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 1, 2024
The tennis legend also changed his X bio immediately after the match from “I play tennis” to “I played tennis”.
Tributes poured in from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who referred to Sir Andy as “a true British great”, and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney who described him as “Scotland’s greatest ever sportsman”.
His mum, Judy Murray, also shared a photo on X of her son at the age of five during his first tennis match.
First match age 5. Last match age 37. pic.twitter.com/QarqAGY4uQ
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) August 1, 2024
As Andy Murray officially retires, here are some of his best quotes from a twenty-one-year career.
1.“Oh my God, you'll be absolutely terrible.”
Response to being told by his mother Judy that she would be competing in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
2. “Anyone but England, ha-ha.”
Sir Andy responded to answer who he would be supporting at the 2006 World Cup, a comment which caused a stir but has since been clarified as a joke.
3. "I don't want a flashy car, just something that would allow me to stop using the Tube. And it would be good not to have to rely on my mum all the time, particularly when I have to listen to her singing in her car."
Sir Andy on getting his first car.
4. “Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have. My upbringing means that I’m quite attuned to the whole thing. I came to tennis thanks to my mother. I always had a very close relationship with my grandmothers. I’ve always been surrounded by women. I find it easier to talk to them. I find it easier to open up to them. It’s a crying shame there aren’t more female coaches.”
When asked if he had become a feminist. Well said, sir Andy.
5. “Sometimes when you're young, you make some bad decisions - that wasn't one of my better ones. I wish I hadn't done it. As you get older, you learn that money is not the most important thing.”
The tennis legend released an autobiography in 2008, but here expresses regret over his decision to pen it.
6. “Why is Johnson Thompson gold medal story headline number 22 on the BBC Sport homepage right now? Complete joke”
Why is Johnson Thompson gold medal story headline number 22 on the BBC sport homepage right now? Complete joke pic.twitter.com/MtabtRUYMo
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) March 7, 2015
Questioning the placement of Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s gold medal win on BBC homepage, implying that her win was placed lower than less significant sports stories.
7. “Have I become a feminist? Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have.”
8. “I think Venus and Serena have won about four each”
When Sir Andy was interviewed by broadcaster John Inverdale who referred to him as “the first person ever to win two Olympic tennis gold medals”, he quick to remind Mr Inverdale that Venus And Serena Williams had reached that achievement before him.
9. “With my fingers.”
In response to the question, "How do you eat your Wimbledon strawberries?"
10. “To be honest, I think bananas are a pathetic fruit.”
On his mid-match snack selection.
11. “There's nothing cooler than being woken up by James Bond.”
Sir Andy on getting a good luck call from Sir Sean Connery during Wimbledon 2006.
