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 hundreds of adoring followers chanting his identify.
It was additionally felt throughout a nation which can by no means see considered one of its sporting icons play professionally once more – and Balding’s response in all probability 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,” stated Murray, who was additionally applauded by his mom Judy watching on.
“However I’m genuinely completely satisfied simply now. I am pleased with the way it completed.”
Murray isn’t any stranger to getting emotional in public, in fact.
Most famously, there have been the tears on Wimbledon’s Centre Courtroom after shedding to Roger Federer within the 2012 ultimate, lastly endearing him to a bigger share of the British public.
“This is not going to be straightforward…” he stated to Sue Barker on court docket post-match that day, earlier than the tears got here.
Earlier than that, he welled up after shedding the 2010 Australian Open ultimate to Roger Federer – quipping he might “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 harm that led to extra tears.
In 2018, he sobbed uncontrollably underneath his towel on the Washington Open as he battled via 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 exhausting. Bodily, pain-wise, I really feel unhealthy,” he stated.
“Bodily, I can clearly go on the court docket and carry out at a stage 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 shouldn’t be good and that is additionally why I am completely satisfied to be ending.
“If I stored going and stored making an attempt, finally you find yourself having an harm probably ending your profession.
“I do know that now could be the fitting 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 harm in March disrupted what was already deliberate to be his ultimate season and when he did handle to race again, his participation in an emotional goodbye to Wimbledon got here underneath risk as he wanted again surgical procedure to take away a cyst.
Murray had lengthy conceded he was unlikely to have a “excellent ending” however admitted he “fast-tracked his rehab” to be able to play on the Olympics.
“I’m glad I received to exit right here and end on my phrases,” he stated.
“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 taking part in on the Olympics and I wouldn’t be taking part in 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 a whole lot 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 character got here out once more shortly after he had completed chatting with the media.
“By no means even preferred 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 beloved him. Some by no means received him however had been finally gained 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,” stated Evans.
“He has spoken up on issues different individuals would not talk about. He is a great man.”
