Roger Federer is retired, Rafael Nadal is on the home stretch, and now the next of the “Big 4” has also announced the end of his career.
Britain’s Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon and two-time Olympic champion, said after his round of 16 exit at the ATP tournament in Dubai that it was “probable that he would not play beyond the summer.”
Murray was already close to the end of his career in 2018 after a long injury break, but fought his way back and has been playing with an artificial hip for years.
And quite successfully. In 2019 he won his 46th and last title on the ATP tour in Antwerp. Recently, however, the defeats have increased – and the questions about the end of his career.
“I’m bored of this,” said Murray after the 2:6, 4:6 win against Frenchman Ugo Humbert. He announced that he would not answer any further questions until the end of his career.
Tennis icon Murray still wants to take part in the Olympics
Murray still wants to take his home Grand Slam in Wimbledon, where he triumphed in 2013 and 2016, as well as the Olympic Games in Paris.
He won gold for Great Britain in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016. He is also planning to start at the French Open in Roland Garros, where the Olympic tennis tour also takes place in the summer.
Together with Federer (42), Nadal (37) and Novak Djokovic (36), Murray (36) formed the so-called “Big 4”, even if he celebrated significantly fewer Grand Slam successes than his competitors.
In addition to his Wimbledon triumphs, he only won the US Open in 2012. Nevertheless, Murray was at the top of the world rankings for weeks – most recently in July 2016.
Federer (Switzerland) ended his career in autumn 2022, and for Nadal (Spain) this season could be the last after numerous injuries. Only Grand Slam record champion Djokovic (Serbia) plans to continue on the tour for more years.