Murray’s career ends with Olympic doubles defeat

British tennis icon Andy Murray’s illustrious career ended with a straight-set defeat in the Olympic men’s doubles quarter-finals.

Murray and Dan Evans lost 6-2 6-4 to American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.

Murray, 37, confirmed before the Paris Games that it would be his final event before retiring from the sport.

After a long hug with Evans at the baseline, Murray was visibly emotional at the noise created by the fans at Roland Garros chanting his name in loving appreciation.

Evans gently encouraged his team-mate to go into the centre of the court for one final time as he waved to all sides before disappearing to the locker room.

A fifth Olympics is the final juncture of a tumultuous journey which led Murray to three Grand Slam titles and the top of the world rankings.

After a season disrupted by injuries, including surgery to remove a back cyst just five weeks ago, it was testament to the perseverance he has always shown that he was even able to play at Paris 2024.

The rollercoaster nature of his career, and his ability to wring every last drop from it, was epitomised by the epic victories which Scotland’s Murray and England’s Evans recorded to reach the last eight.

The pair saved five match points before fighting back against Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori on Sunday, then fought off another two against Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.

But another herculean effort against opponents of Fritz and Paul’s stature proved out of reach.

The American pair are both established top-20 singles players at the peak of their game, are good friends who are gelling well as a pair and have played plenty of doubles events together.

Needing to make another quick start to build momentum, Murray and Evans lacked the energy and sharpness they showed in their second-round win on Sunday.

They were under regular pressure on their serve and unable to make a serious impact on return as their younger opponents stormed into a 4-0 lead in the first set and went on to win the opener 6-2.

Fritz and Paul then took command with a double break in the second set before Murray and Evans showed resistance – of course – to claw one break back.

Paul had spoken about the importance of taking a match point as soon as one arrived and, although the Americans failed to do that when they served at 5-2, they took their chance at the second time of asking.