S Poddar
At 37, Andy Murray has accepted that it’s time to retire, a decision he grappled with for months. Reflecting on his journey in Paris, Murray shared his contentment with his choice: “I wasn’t sure a few months ago if I’d feel this way. I had a lot of conversations with my family, especially my wife. Now, I’m certain it’s the right time, and I feel good about it.”
Murray had been hinting at wrapping up his career at the Olympics, a plan he confirmed upon arriving in Paris. Despite being entered in both singles and doubles with Dan Evans, he’s likely to focus only on doubles: “I need to decide tonight, but I don’t think I’ll play singles. Dan and I have committed to prioritizing doubles.”
His recent back surgery, although improving his condition, still doesn’t allow him to compete in both events. “We’ve been practicing doubles here. It gives us the best shot at a medal. My back isn’t perfect, and playing two matches a day isn’t ideal.”
Murray’s Wimbledon finale was bittersweet, ending not with his brother Jamie as hoped, but with Emma Raducanu withdrawing from their mixed doubles match due to her singles commitments. Despite the controversy surrounding his mother Judy’s supportive yet misconstrued social media posts, Murray defended Raducanu’s decision: “Everyone looks out for their best interests. I understand and have no issue with it.”
Looking ahead, Murray plans to spend more time with his family and pursue his passion for golf. He envisions staying connected to tennis, possibly even participating in future Olympics: “I’ll always love the sport and see myself involved in it. I’d love to be part of the next Olympics in some capacity.”
In other news, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner had to withdraw from the Olympics due to tonsillitis, a major setback as he was slated to be the top seed in both singles and doubles with Lorenzo. Sinner expressed his disappointment: “The Olympics were a major goal this season, and I’m extremely sad to miss out.”
