Andy Murray will call time on a glittering career in a month - but the legendary Brit’s Wimbledon goodbye was anything but the fairytale ending he dreamed of and deserved. Days after undergoing back surgery to remove a painful cyst, Murray pledged to put his creaking, tired body through one last gruelling battle at his home Grand Slam. The two-time Wimbledon winner might be 37, but his hunger is no less satisfied than when he lifted the pineapple-adorned trophy back in 2013 and 2016.
Yet his dream came to a crushing end over the past two weeks - one gut-wrenching blow after another. Initially scheduled to take on Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, Murray’s surgery forced him to pull out of his last Wimbledon singles venture. He teamed up with his brother Jamie in the hope that the men’s doubles would bring him the success he craved to cap off a stellar career.
That too ended in tatters as they were knocked out in the first round. Joined by his two eldest daughters, his wife, mum and dad, the Scot shed tears after an emotional post-match farewell ceremony presented by Sue Barker. She talked through his memories while past adversaries such as Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic delivered kind messages.
It was a bittersweet moment for the Murray clan and the thousands watching, with all eyes firmly fixated on his final hurrah alongside British tennis’ former new hope Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles. Ending those hopes ahead of last Saturday’s clash, a stat.
