Andy Murray cried. Dan Evans cried. Even BBC tv presenter Clare Balding cried.
Within the moments after Murray’s illustrious profession got here to an finish on the Paris 2024 Olympics, there was an outpouring of emotion.
It was felt at Roland Garros by Murray, by his British team-mates, by the 1000’s of adoring followers chanting his identify.
It was additionally felt throughout a nation which is able to by no means see one in every of its sporting icons play professionally once more – and Balding’s response most likely summed up the sentiments of many who’ve watched this British hero through the years.
“Clearly, it was emotional as a result of it is the final time I’ll play a aggressive match,” mentioned Murray, who was additionally applauded by his mom Judy watching on.
“However I’m genuinely comfortable simply now. I am pleased with the way it completed.”
Murray isn’t any stranger to getting emotional in public, after all.
Most famously, there have been the tears on Wimbledon’s Centre Court docket after dropping to Roger Federer within the 2012 closing, lastly endearing him to a bigger share of the British public.
“This is not going to be simple…” he mentioned to Sue Barker on court docket post-match that day, earlier than the tears got here.
Earlier than that, he welled up after dropping the 2010 Australian Open closing to Roger Federer – quipping he may “cry like Roger… it is a disgrace I am unable to play like him”.
As soon as he did land that Grand Slam title – and two extra after that – it was damage that led to extra tears.
In 2018, he sobbed uncontrollably below his towel on the Washington Open as he battled by means of hip ache.
On the eve of the 2019 Australian Open, Murray broke down in a pre-tournament information convention when he revealed he may need to retire due to impending hip resurfacing surgical procedure, which he thought would finish his profession.
5 and a half years later, and after squeezing each final drop out of his comeback, Murray was lastly content material to name it a day.
“It has been actually arduous. Bodily, pain-wise, I really feel dangerous,” he mentioned.
“Bodily, I can clearly go on the court docket and carry out at a degree that is aggressive.
“We had been near getting within the medal rounds right here. That is OK however the ache and discomfort in my physique will not be good and that is additionally why I am comfortable to be ending.
“If I stored going and stored attempting, ultimately you find yourself having an damage probably ending your profession.
“I do know that now’s the correct time and bodily.”
After the preliminary tears at Roland Garros had dried, a contemplative Murray revealed how robust the ultimate few months had been for him.
An ankle damage in March disrupted what was already deliberate to be his closing season and when he did handle to race again, his participation in an emotional goodbye to Wimbledon got here below risk as he wanted again surgical procedure to take away a cyst.
Murray had lengthy conceded he was unlikely to have a “good ending” however admitted he “fast-tracked his rehab” with the intention to play on the Olympics.
“I’m glad I received to exit right here and end on my phrases,” he mentioned.
“At instances in the previous few years, that wasn’t a certainty.
“And even once I first went to have my scan on my again, the difficulty that I had with it, I used to be advised that I wouldn’t be enjoying on the Olympics and I wouldn’t be enjoying at Wimbledon.
“So I really feel fortunate I received that chance to play right here and have some nice matches and create wonderful reminiscences.”
Murray means lots of various things to lots of people who do not even know him: Sporting icon who has taken British tennis to new heights; advocate for gender equality in a male-dominated sport; all-round respectable man with acerbically dry humour.
The droll facet of his persona got here out once more shortly after he had completed talking to the media.
“By no means even appreciated tennis anyway,” he wrote on social media. The bio on his X account had additionally been modified from ‘I play tennis’ to ‘I performed tennis’.
Some cherished him. Some by no means received him however had been ultimately received spherical. Some have by no means received him in any respect.
“He’s a category act and has been for years for British tennis and world tennis,” mentioned Evans.
“He has spoken up on issues different individuals would not discuss. He is an excellent man.”
