Andy Murray has been given a retirement plan after admitting that he discussed the end of his career with his team and family.
Tennis fans have had their say on Andy Murray’s potential retirement as the former world No. 1 continues to struggle to find form. Murray has still not won a match this season, crashing out in the first round of Marseille this week. The Brit recently shut down retirement talk but fans have shared their wish to see Murray team up with Emma Raducanu before the end of his career, with hopes for a potential Wimbledon farewell.
Andy Murray has been going through a difficult period, with his last match win coming at the Swiss Indoors in October. Against his wishes, it has prompted plenty of retirement talk, with many speculating when and how the 36-year-old could end his incredible career.
The world No. 49 himself recently confessed that he “had an idea” of how he wanted to finish playing and had already discussed his plans with his family and his team. But the three-time Major winner also shut down a recent report claiming that he could be tarnishing his legacy by continuing to play, stating that he wouldn’t quit.
While Andy Murray tries to shut down the retirement conversation, Express Sport readers have shared their own ideas on how the 36-year-old should finish his career. Following in the footsteps of Roger Federer – who ended his career with a doubles match alongside Rafael Nadal – fans are hoping to see Murray get on the doubles court with one of his compatriots before he hands up his racket.
Asked who they wanted to see Murray partner up with in doubles before his eventual retirement, 48 per cent voted for Emma Raducanu. It could be a possibility with the Olympics taking place this year. Murray previously teamed up with another young star in Laura Robson for the 2012 Games in London and they managed to win the silver medal.
18 per cent said they wanted to see Murray play alongside Venus Williams, as he has already teamed up with her younger sister Serena. The Brit and the 23-time Grand Slam champion famously joined forces at Wimbledon in 2019, calling themselves ‘Murrena’ and reaching the third round before they lost to the top seeds.
13 per cent thought that Coco Gauff was the ideal pick to pair up with Murray before the end of his career, while 10 per cent wanted to see a partnership with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. While there were several players that Express Sport readers were happy to see Murray play doubles with, almost everyone agreed when it came to their ideal farewell tournament.
83 per cent said they wanted Wimbledon to be Murray’s last tournament. It makes way for the possible dream scenario of Murray starting an all-British mixed doubles team with Raducanu at their home Grand Slam tournament as part of his last dance one day.
Andy Murray ended a 77-year wait for a British champion in the men’s singles at the All England Club when he lifted the trophy in 2013, beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. And he won Wimbledon for a second time in 2016. The world No. 49 also has fond memories of the grounds from the 2012 Olympics, as he won his first gold medal on Centre Court.
With the Olympics taking place in Paris this year, 10 per cent said they wanted to see Murray hang up his racket at the 2024 Games while eight per cent picked the US Open as a farewell tournament – the site of Murray’s first Grand Slam triumph in 2012. But there’s no guarantee that tennis fans will get their wishes, as the 36-year-old recently shut down suggestions that he should give up.
The 46-time title winner recently reposted an article questioning whether he should retire and wrote: “Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour. I’m in a terrible moment right now I’ll give you that. Most people would quit and give up in my situation right now. But I’m not most people and my mind works differently. I won’t quit. I will keep fighting and working to produce the performances I know I’m capable of.”
