Andy Murray’s illustrious tennis profession got here to an finish on Thursday when he joined Dan Evans for Group GB on the 2024 Olympics.
Though the British later encountered some resistance, Murray and Evans defeated The doubles quarter-finals have been received by Individuals Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Two-time gold medalist and three-time Grand Slam champion Murray bid a fond farewell at Wimbledon earlier this month, partnering brother Jamie in his last doubles match on the All England Membership.
Tim Henman shares his reminiscences of the three-time Grand Slam champion, from his first impressions to his profession legacy and all the pieces in between, in an interview with Sky Sports activities’ Murray Particular . You’ll be able to watch Andy Murray: Braveness, Glory and Legacy sky sports activities tennis On demand beginning Friday at 8am.
When did you first hear Andy Murray?
“I first heard about him when he was about 14 or 15 and he was enjoying in some youth occasions after which fascinated with enjoying at a future stage.
“The primary time I used to be actually with him was in 2004, once I misplaced within the U.S. Open semifinals and he had simply received the junior match.
“We have been in La Manga, Spain, for a coaching camp earlier than the Davis Cup, and we have been coaching on the clay courts. That was the primary time I used to be really with him and capable of see him on the coaching pitch.”
Henman says he first met Murray within the US in 2004
First impression of Murray?
“He was in a really completely different setting at that stage. He was somewhat bit shy, however I believe you could possibly inform instantly that he was a pupil of the sport and he actually absorbed all the data and all the pieces across the Davis Cup.
“We’re clearly at a a lot greater stage than he’s, however you may inform he has a perception. That is the place he needs to be.
“That’s the place he thought he can be, and from these early days it’s been actually spectacular to see how rapidly he’s progressed.”
Lower than a month after dropping the 2012 Wimbledon last, Murray beat Roger Federer on Heart Court docket to win Olympic gold
What takes Murray to the following stage?
“In tennis you want all completely different attributes. Bodily it’s a must to have velocity, stability and footwork, however you could have to have the ability to do it for 4, 5 and even six hours.
“Andy targets all these completely different areas. He is an excellent athlete as a counterattacker and his defensive abilities play a giant function in Andy’s success.
“The job he does, whether or not it’s on the coaching subject, on the monitor or within the fitness center, it’s protected to say he leaves no stone unturned and will get all the pieces out of the sport.”
Murray received the Wimbledon Grand Slam singles titles in 2013 and 2016 throughout his profession
Unfavorable press, together with feedback in regards to the 2006 World Cup “by anybody however England”
“I bear in mind loads as a result of I used to be being interviewed by him. We have been at Wimbledon and we have been simply strolling with the reporter, I believe a photographer, looking for a spot the place we may sit down and do the interview.
“We have been speaking in regards to the World Cup as a result of it was a World Cup 12 months and I had a number of chats and a number of banter, criticizing Scotland’s lack of high quality, which was simply regular banter.
“The reporter laughed and mentioned to Andy: ‘Who’re you going to assist?’ and he simply mentioned, as any Scot would say after that dialog: ‘I’ll assist whoever performs for England’.
Throughout the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Murray obtained some destructive media protection
“We sat down for an interview and we talked for an hour however we did not discuss in regards to the World Cup or soccer, so given the circumstances it was a really unfair headline and he suffered from it.
“There was definitely a time when which will have affected individuals’s notion of Andy, however that could not be farther from the reality. He lived in England for a very long time and his spouse was British, so it was a troublesome time.”
Recollections of enjoying alongside Murray
“He was somebody I knew very nicely from an early age. The final match I performed as an expert was the Davis Cup in opposition to Croatia at Wimbledon, which was a World Group qualifier.
“On Friday I performed singles and Andy performed the opposite singles and we received each, main 2-0, after which on Saturday I performed doubles with Jamie, so my final skilled match was with Murray.”
Henman performed alongside Murray for Nice Britain through the Davis Cup
Murray received Wimbledon in 2013
“It is implausible. Once I was commentating that day, I used to be as conscious as anybody of the shortage of a male Wimbledon champion in Britain since Fred Perry in 1936. What an excellent deal that it’s for British sport, for British tennis and definitely for It was an vital second for Andy.
“Going into his match in opposition to Djokovic, Djokovic might be his biggest opponent. They’ve grown up since they have been 11 years previous and Djokovic is possibly the best within the historical past of our sport. Males’s Champion.
“To get this win and the best way he obtained it, we have been in straight units, but it surely was positively nearer than that!”
Turn out to be primary on the earth
“It was unimaginable. He was in tears after the U.S. Open, having received all these tournaments in a row.
“To have the tour-ending match in London, to get to the ultimate. He was enjoying in opposition to Djokovic once more in a match that determined who completed first. For him to realize that I believe is the icing on the cake.
“There are only a few gamers who can obtain the primary rating on the earth yearly. For Andy to have the ability to obtain this aim, within the period of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, it’s one other superb achievement.”
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In 2016, Murray celebrated his twenty ninth birthday when he defeated Novak Djokovic within the Rome Masters last in what could have been his biggest ever match level
Get better from all accidents
“I believe it simply emphasised his starvation and need, willpower and resilience to by no means give in.
“I bear in mind when Andy’s profession resulted in Australia he was in a lot ache in his hip. Then the metallic hip was put in place – nobody actually comes again to skilled sport with a metallic hip!
“It simply emphasizes how resilient he’s however how cussed he’s and he refuses to offer in. He is 37 years previous now and he is nonetheless on the market competing.”
“I believe there is not any doubt he is a frontrunner. He is an inspiration, he is a job mannequin and he is given British tennis nearly an entire new identification.
“Turning into a Grand Slam champion and turning into world No. 1 is an unimaginable achievement and a troublesome activity.”
Henman says Murray’s return from damage highlights his resilience and need
What’s subsequent for Andy Murray?
“What do I believe Andy Murray will do subsequent? Hopefully chill out! I do not essentially know what he’ll do, however he has a spouse and 4 children and hopefully he’ll be capable of spend a while with them.
“He can benefit from the lack of construction, no video games, coaching and journey, and simply give himself somewhat time to resolve what he can do and what he needs to do subsequent, as a result of there might be a number of alternatives.
“I believe my recommendation can be do not rush into these areas. You continue to have loads of time and alternative.”
On what’s subsequent for Murray, Henman mentioned he hopes the Scot can chill out and relaxation
What’s Murray’s legacy?
“I believe success is about maximizing your potential and while you see Andy’s work ethic, his starvation and need, his drive and his aggressive spirit, it is completely superb.
“I believe he’ll lastly be capable of sit again and replicate on his unimaginable profession.
“I believe Andy has been an excellent ambassador for the boys’s and girls’s video games. I believe his ethical compass has at all times been very spot on and I believe he is an excellent function mannequin.
“I believe his two Wimbledon titles [are his greatest achievement]. Discover out all the pieces concerned with being a British participant and competing in tournaments. For him to have the ability to cross the end line and win an important occasion within the sport – twice for me is his biggest achievement.
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