"No plans to play again" - Andy Murray confirms Paris Olympics 2024 will be his final event
Andy Murray has confirmed that he has no intention of prolonging his singles career beyond the 2024 Paris Olympics. The legendary Brit made the announcement during a press conference following his 2024 Wimbledon doubles exit. Murray had earlier withdrawn from the singles draw at the prestigious grasscourt Major, owing to his lack of fitness following a recent back surgery.
Murray took to first-round doubles action at SW19 alongside brother Jamie on Thursday, July 4, but the pair suffered a 6-7(6-8), 4-6 loss to John Peers and Rinky Hijikata. The two-time Wimbledon winner later received an emotional farewell on Centre Court.
The former World No. 1 proceeded to attend a press conference. During the presser, he was asked if rival Novak Djokovic's hope for him to continue playing singles tempts him to reconsider his imminent retirement. In his response, Murray revisited his performances across various tournaments earlier in the season, stating that despite physical issues, he could still compete.
"Before what happened in Miami I was starting to play good tennis. At Queens I got through the first round. I can still win matches at this level. Even with the physical issues around the hip, I was still able to compete at the highest level. Not as consistently as I would’ve liked. Certainly not having the results I would’ve wanted," Murray said.
The three-time Grand Slam winner also expressed his belief that he can win matches again after completing his recovery from the recent cyst removal surgery on his back. However, he added that he has "no plans to play singles again" following his 2024 Paris Olympics outing.
"But yeah, I can definitely still win matches here or on the grass once I’m recovered from the back injury. But I don’t want to do that now. I know I could do it, but I have no plans to play singles again," Murray added.
"To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray... those things don't come by" - Emma Raducanu
Former WTA World No. 10 Raducanu recently opened up on accepting Andy Murray's offer to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon. The 2021 US Open champion claimed that it only took her 10 seconds to say yes to the offer, and elaborated why that was the case.
"I got asked, and literally it was like 10 seconds, I was like yeah. For me it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Some things are bigger than just tennis. Some things are a once in a lifetime memory that you’re gonna have for the rest of your life. To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray.. those things don’t come by. At the end of my life, at the end of my career, when I’m like 70 years old, I know I’m gonna have that memory of playing at Wimbledon with Andy Murray on our home Slam," Raducanu said during a press conference.
Raducanu's mixed doubles match partnering Murray on Friday, July 5, is set to mark the latter's last outing at Wimbledon as a player.