ANDY MURRAY was in tears after his incredible career ended in defeat and a fitting tribute from the Paris crowd at the Olympics.
Fans at Roland Garros chanted the British legend’s name following his quarter-final exit in the men’s doubles – alongside his equally-emotional partner Dan Evans.
Andy Murray reacts after an emotional climax to his tennis playing days
The sense of occasion also got to Murray’s partner Dan Evans
Murray responded in kind to the crowd’s rousing send-off
The victorious American pair of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul even declined to celebrate properly, as a mark of respect to the Scot’s epic achievements in the game.
Evans also shed more than a tear too after a 6-2 6-4 defeat.
And BBC presenter Clare Balding was also overwhelmed – TV viewers seeing two-time Olympic gold-winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington consoling the tearful broadcaster.
Whatever his injury issues in recent years, Murray’s fighting spirit – and hence an ability to produce dramatic turnarounds – has never dipped.
And once more the 37-year-old threatened it here at Paris 2024, having survived numerous match points even to reach the last eight.
Fritz and Paul cruised to a 4-0 lead, with slick, almost flawless tennis on the way to taking the first set 6-2.
But Murray and Evans dug deep, grafting away until suddenly finding some of their best form at 4-1 down in the second set.
Suddenly they were just 5-4 behind but the Americans served out – before responding humbly, taking second fiddle to the departure of Murray from both the Olympics and competitive court action anywhere.
He will surely be pleased to have bowed out with the type of comeback bid, albeit unsuccessful here, that distinguished so many of his matches.
British tennis chiefs the LTA reacted by posting: “Our Greatest of All Time. Thank you for all you’ve done for the sport we love, @andy_murray.”
Fans also pouted in with their praise and memories of Murray as a player.
“I’m not crying, you are,” wrote one, while another said: “Went out with a real fight. It’s been a pleasure Andy.”
Plenty of fans hailed Murray as one of the best competitors ever – one even describing him as the “best British sportsman in history”.
One wrote: “Congrats to Sir Andy Murray on an absolutely legendary career. Brits will always appreciate his incredible performance, and efforts, we will dearly miss watching and supporting him. 2 olympic golds, 3 grand slams, world number 1, he achieved it all. Thanks for everything Andy!”
It’s also the Olympics where British cycling icon Mark Cavendish has bowed out.
And that double departure was duly recognised.
this message spoke for many: “Murray and Cavendish – two of the truly greatest of British sportsmen (in every meaning of the word) in my lifetime. Never gave an inch always acknowledged others, played their sports with grace and brilliance. Don’t think I’ll see the like of them again.”
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