Andy Murray experienced an emotional evening at Wimbledon, marked by tears, standing ovations, and a video tribute featuring messages from tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Venus Williams. The occasion was Murray’s first doubles match with his brother Jamie, signaling the start of his farewell tour at the tournament.
The Murray brothers were defeated 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the first round of men’s doubles by Rinky Hijikata and John Peers. However, the result was secondary to the significance of the match.
“The match itself, it was tough, physically. It was hard for me. … I was fortunate I was even able to get on the court to play,” said Murray, who recently underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his spine, forcing him to withdraw from singles competition.
Reflecting on the post-match tribute, the 37-year-old Murray said, “It was pretty emotional. Watching the video was nice, but hard as well, for me. Because you know it’s coming to the end of something that you absolutely loved doing for such a long time. So that was difficult.”
This marked the first time in nearly 30 years that a men’s doubles first-round match was played in Wimbledon’s main stadium, providing a fitting backdrop for Murray’s farewell. The crowd, filled with fans eager to express their gratitude and best wishes, added to the atmosphere.
Murray, who hails from Scotland, has announced his intention to retire after his appearances at Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics later this month. He is also entered in mixed doubles with 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu.
“I’m ready to finish playing,” Murray stated, “because I can’t play to the level I want to anymore.”
During the match, Murray occasionally appeared uncomfortable, adjusting his back and fidgeting. Nonetheless, he celebrated a forehand return winner with a scream, reminiscent of the energy that propelled him to the top of the rankings.
This match was the first time the Murray brothers played together at the All England Club. They exchanged fist bumps before the match and high-fives between points. Their mother, Judy, who coached both brothers, watched from the guest box alongside Andy’s wife, Kim, and two of their four children.
“It was a fun experience for me to be out there and play with him,” Jamie said. “It was sort of strange knowing what the background was.”
Andy Murray became a local hero by winning Wimbledon in 2013, becoming the first British man to win singles at the All England Club in 77 years. He claimed the title again in 2016. His other Grand Slam victory came at the 2012 U.S. Open. That same year, he won his first singles gold medal at the London Olympics at Centre Court and secured another gold at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, making him the only player to win two consecutive Olympic singles titles.
Throughout the match, some of Murray’s characteristic behaviors were evident, such as adjusting his hat, pulling on his shoes, and clenching his fist. However, there was less of his usual intense demeanor.
In the tribute video, Djokovic remarked, “Sometimes, it looked like you against the world.” Federer added, “But you were never alone. Because while you carried your own dreams, you also carried theirs,” referring to Murray’s fans.
After the ceremony, Murray was congratulated by several current and former players, including Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Lleyton Hewitt, Holger Rune, Cam Norrie, Martina Navratilova, and John McEnroe. Murray then embraced his brother Jamie, marking a poignant moment in his farewell tour.
