Andy Murray’s illustrious tennis profession got here to an finish whereas representing Staff GB on the 2024 Olympics alongside Dan Evans on Thursday.
Regardless of some late resistance from the British pair, Murray and Evans have been crushed by USA’s Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul within the doubles quarter-finals.
Murray, a two-time gold medal winner and three-time Grand Slam champion, made an emotional farewell at Wimbledon earlier this month as he teamed up with brother Jamie within the doubles in his last look on the All England Membership.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities for a particular Murray documentary, Tim Henman shared his recollections of the three-time Grand Slam champion, from his first impressions to his profession legacy, and all the things in between. You possibly can watch ‘Andy Murray: Grit, Glory and Legacy’ on Sky Sports activities Tennis from 8am on Friday and on Demand.
When did you first hear of Andy Murray?
“I first heard of him when he was in all probability 14 or 15 and taking part in some junior occasions after which taking part in the Futures degree of tournaments.
“The primary time I actually spent any time with him was 2004, simply after I would misplaced within the semi-finals of the US Open and he had simply received the junior occasion.
“We were in pre-Davis Cup training camp in La Manga in Spain and we were practising on clay. That was the first time I really spent any time with him and was able to see him on the practice court. “
First impressions of Murray?
“At that stage he was in a very different environment. He was a bit shy, but I think you immediately understood that he was a student of the game and he was really soaking up all the information and all the goings on around Davis Cup.
“We have been clearly at a a lot increased degree than him, however you may inform that he had a perception. It is the place he needed to be.
“It’s where he thought he would be and, from those early days, it was pretty impressive to see how rapidly he went through the ranks.”
Lower than a month after defeat within the 2012 Wimbledon last, Murray clinched Olympic gold on Centre Court docket with victory over Roger Federer
What made Murray attain the subsequent degree?
“In tennis, you need all the different attributes. Physically, you’ve got to have the speed, the balance and the footwork, but you’ve got to be able to do that for four, five or even six hours.
“Andy had focused all these completely different areas. He was such a superb athlete, and being a counterpuncher and his defensive abilities have performed an enormous half in Andy’s success.
“The work that he has done, whether that be on the practice court, on the track or in the gym, it’s safe to say he has left no stone unturned and has got absolutely everything out of his game.”
Murray clinched Wimbledon Grand Slam singles titles in 2013 and 2016 throughout his profession
Detrimental press, together with 2006 World Cup “anyone but England” feedback
“I remember a lot, because I was doing the interview with him. We were at Wimbledon and we were just walking with the journalists and I think a photographer, trying to find a place where we were going to sit down and do this interview.
“We have been speaking concerning the World Cup as a result of it was World Cup yr and there was a number of chat and numerous banter from me, criticising the dearth of high quality within the Scottish crew and simply regular banter actually.
“The journalist sort of laughed and said to Andy: ‘Who are you going to be supporting?’ and he just said, like any Scottish person would have said after that conversation: ‘I’ll support anyone that’s playing England’.
Murray underwent some negativity within the press across the time of 2006 FIFA World Cup
“We sat down and did the interview, where we spoke for an hour and we didn’t talk about the World Cup or football once, so that type of headline was very unfair given the circumstances and he suffered from that.
“There was positively a time period the place that in all probability influenced individuals’s perceptions round Andy, however it could not have been farther from the reality. He has lived in England for a very long time and his spouse is English, in order that was a tough interval.”
Memories of playing alongside Murray
“He’s somebody I’ve received to know very nicely from these early years. The final occasion that I ever performed in as knowledgeable was the Davis Cup at Wimbledon towards Croatia, a World Group qualifier.
“On the Friday I played singles and Andy played the other singles and we both won to go up 2-0, then on the Saturday I played doubles with Jamie, so my last professional competition was partnering both Murrays.”
Henman performed alongside Murray throughout Davis Cup campaigns for GB
Murray’s 2013 win at Wimbledon
“It was amazing. I was commentating that day and I’d been as aware as anyone of a lack of male British Wimbledon champion since 1936 with Fred Perry. It was a huge moment for British sport, for British tennis and obviously for Andy.
“To play the match that he did towards Djokovic, in all probability his biggest rival. They’ve grown up for the reason that age of 11 and Djokovic has been maybe the best male champion within the historical past of our sport.
“To get that win and the way that he did it, it was three straight sets but it was definitely a lot closer than that!”
Attending to world No 1
“That was incredible. After the US Open he just went on a tear, winning all these events back-to-back-to-back.
“For the tour-ending championships to be in London, to get by way of to the ultimate. Once more, he performed Djokovic within the match that decides who finishes No 1. For him to perform that I believe was the icing on the cake.
“There are very few players that have finished a calendar year world No 1 and for Andy to be able to achieve that, in the era of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, is another amazing achievement.”
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Murray celebrated his twenty ninth birthday in 2016 by beating Novak Djokovic within the Rome Masters last with probably his biggest match level ever
Getting back from all of the accidents
“I think that just emphasises his hunger and desire, the determination and the resilience to never give in.
“I keep in mind when it regarded like Andy’s profession was over in Australia and his hip was so painful. Then to have the metallic hip in place – nobody had actually come again to skilled sport with a metallic hip!
“It just emphasises how resilient, but how stubborn he is, that he just refuses to give in. He’s now 37 years of age and still out there competing hard.
“I believe there is not any doubt he is been the chief. He has been an inspiration, he has been a job mannequin and he is given British tennis nearly a complete new id.
“To be that Grand Slam champion and be a world No 1 is an incredible achievement and a tough act.”
Henman says Murray’s harm comebacks have emphasised his resilience and want
What is going to Andy Murray do subsequent?
“What do I think Andy Murray will do next? Hopefully relax a little bit! I don’t necessarily know that is what he’ll do, but he’s got a wife and four children and hopefully he will be able to spend some time with them.
“He can benefit from the lack of construction, with out the tournaments, the coaching and the journey and simply give himself just a little little bit of time to make choices round what he can do and what he needs to do subsequent, as a result of there will be loads of alternatives.
“I think my advice would be don’t rush into them. You’ve got plenty of time and plenty of opportunities ahead.”
On what Murray will do subsequent, Henman says he hopes the Scot will loosen up and have a relaxation
What’s Murray’s legacy?
“I think success is about maximising your potential and when you look at Andy’s work ethic, his hunger and desire, his motivation and his competitive spirit, it’s been absolutely phenomenal to watch.
“I believe he’ll be capable of sit again finally and mirror on an unbelievable profession.
“I think Andy has been a brilliant ambassador for both the men’s and the women’s game. I think his moral compass is always pretty accurate and I think he has been a great role model.
“I believe his two Wimbledon titles [are his greatest achievement]. Understanding all the things that goes with being a British participant and competing on the Championships. For him to have the ability to get throughout the road and win the largest occasion in our sport – on two events for me is his biggest achievement.”
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