"Maybe others won't be missing Andy Murray, but one person will" - Brit's ex-coach pays him tribute amid Emma Raducanu's 'old news' remark
Former English player Mark Petchey lauded his former tutee Andy Murray, amid Emma Raducanu's remarks about Murray's retirement as something the tennis world will 'move on' from. Murray concluded his career on the tour with a first-round loss at Wimbledon.
Andy Murray last played on the tour with his brother Jamie at the 2024 Wimbledon, where the brothers failed to advance to the second round. He received a center-court farewell after their doubles loss at Wimbledon. Murray was also scheduled to play mixed doubles with Brit Emma Raducanu but the latter sat out in the wake of her "wrist stiffness."
Shortly after, Raducanu left the internet abuzz with her comment that Murray's retirement would be 'old news' the following day since tennis evolves swiftly.
"Of course (Andy Murray) achieved amazing things and I watched him win this tournament (2012 US Open), but yeah, it’s a fast pace, just like life is. You know, it’s old news the next day kind of thing," she said in a pre-tournament press conference.
Former English player Mark Petcher backed Murray for leaving a mark at the US Open with his first Grand Slam win (Juniors) approximately 20 years and 19 days ago. He also shared that Murray will miss his 'oxygen' albeit none will miss him on the court.
"20 years and 19 days ago @andy_murray was about to make his first indelible image @usopen. I was fortunate to watch him that day and interview him at the start of what was going to be an incredible adventure," Petcher wrote in his X (formerly Twitter) post.
"Maybe others won’t be missing him but one person will be missing it more than life itself," He added. "Tennis was his oxygen and his time to truly reflect on his incredible career will start this fortnight."
Andy Murray gets a heartfelt honor from his first-ever tennis club in Dunblane
Journalist Rebecca Brady shared a clip of an artist painting a mural of Any Murray on a wall of his first-ever tennis club at Dunblane.
Moved by the gesture, Murray wrote on X that he was unaware of the honor that was in line for him.
"I had absolutely no idea this was happened. Thanks to tennis tv and the artists for doing this though some of the locals might object to having to look at my ugly mug on the side of the building," Murray said.
Andy Murray held the rank of World No. 1 for 41 weeks and won three Grand Slam titles (two Wimbledon and one US Open) across his storied career.