By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
British tennis living legend Andy Murray is ready to call his professional career quits after announcing his retirement from the sport on July 23, 2024.
Murray confirmed that his campaign in the upcoming Paris Olympics will be his last tournament to join in, wrapping up his illustrious 19-year professional tennis career.
The three-time Grand Slam champion will be reinforcing the Great Britain Olympic tennis team in Paris and will be kicking off his farewell tour on July 27, 2024.
“Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament. Competing for Team GB have been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get to do it one final time!” posted Murray on his official X account.
Despite an unsure trip to the Olympics after going under the knife to remove a spinal cyst, Murray officially declared his participation in Paris and is seeking a record-extending third Olympic gold medal.
Murray already reached the Mt. Rushmore of Olympic tennis after becoming the first man in history to bag two singles gold medals on the most prestigious sporting stage in the world.
The British ace first delivered the gold medal to Great Britain during the 2012 edition and followed it up with another championship in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Murray then failed to win his third straight gold medal when his Olympic participation in the 2020 Tokyo edition got derailed due to a series of injuries.
This 2024 Paris Olympics will be one of the toughest tests for Murray as some of the brightest stars in the sport will also reinforce their respective nations.
Headlining the star-studded list of this year’s lawn tennis men’s participants are Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev.
“Sir Andy has lived and breathed the values of tennis throughout his long career, championing equality and helping to send the message that our sport is for everyone,” International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said.
