It was an emotional day at Wimbledon with Andy Murray given a rousing reception on Centre Court in what, effectively, was a farewell ceremony for the Scottish legend.
Not surprisingly, the chance to applaud the former world No.1s contribution to sport drew an array of greats, with an Australian cricket champion among those in attendance.
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, revealed the reason he was snubbed by Nick Kyrgios, while Australia’s tennis team for the Paris Olympics was confirmed.
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FAREWELL TO THE SCOTTISH BRAVEHEART
“It is hard because I would love to keep playing, but I can’t. Physically it is too tough now. All of the injuries have added up and, as I said, they have not been insignificant.
“I want to play forever. I love the sport. It has given me so much. It has taught me loads of lessons over the years. And I don’t want to stop.”
With those words, Scottish legend Andy Murray said farewell to the Centre Court of Wimbledon after an emotion-charged farewell ceremony to celebrate a dramatic career on Thursday.
The drought-breaking champion has not yet retired – he will play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu and has Olympic ambitions as well – but this was the touchstone of his career at the most world’s most famous club and it drew together his nearest and dearest.
A final outing with his elder brother Jamie on his favourite court, a stage where he won the Championships in 2013 and 2016 and an Olympic gold medal in 2012 became a celebrated affair.
The 37-year-old was world No.1 in the toughest era of them all. He felled the giants in their prime. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who bid him farewell on the court. All of them bowed at some stage to the Scottish supremo.
Murray partnered Serena Williams in mixed doubles and he was loved by the best of both tours for his brilliance, his ethic, his bravery.
It is why the legends of the sport – Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Williams – delivered a poignant tribute which was shown to a capacity crowd on Centre Court after Australians Rinky Hijikata and John Peers beat the brothers 7-6 (6) 6-4.
Federer was on site on Thursday. Djokovic walked from the press conference room to sit courtside and then later formed a guard of honour with legends and compatriots of the Scot, before hugging him again back inside the Wimbledon Members.
They listened as he revealed some very personal stories.
Of how stressed he was in the final when toppling Djokovic to end a 77-year drought for British players at Wimbledon. Or when Murray, usually a teetotaller, enjoyed a drink too many after his 2016 triumph and vomited in the cab on the way home.
Nerves must be an affliction – he also spewed on the court twice when inviting his future wife Kim to watch him for the first time when they were teens in New York at the US Open after asking her for her email, not her number, after their first date.
He never looked the smoothest of movers with his wild shock of hair and wilder eyes. Murray could scream and curse and shout and thunder. And he did not look like he was having an amazing time on court, even when in his prime, even as a truly remarkable player.
In press conferences he could be dour. It is perhaps no surprise given for many years he was treated as British when he won and Scottish when he was beaten. But he was always insightful and generous with his time.
And the dour tone belied the truth. Murray is blessed with an extremely dry sense of humour and could piss-take as well as anyone on the tour. Even in defeat, as his emotions swelled on Wednesday ahead of a lengthy farewell, he could find a touch of humour.
“I will try to keep it quick, too. My kids are up there and it is way past their bedtime, so I won’t keep them long,” he said.
And he cared. A lot. Ask any of his compatriots. Ask the women on the tour whenever there was a hint of sexism or dismissiveness.
How much he cared was most apparent when, after being beaten by Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final, which marked his fourth straight loss in a grand slam decider, he wept while speaking. He was already beloved at home, but this endeared him more broadly.
“I am not saying I am an outgoing, bubbly personality, but I think people probably saw how much I cared about the sport for the first time, maybe,” he reflected.
After being interviewed by English favourite Sue Barker, who returned to Centre Court for the honour, Murray went to embrace the greats who had given their time to attend the ceremony.
He hugged Djokovic at length, embraced John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova warmly, gave Iga Swiatek a peck on both cheeks, shook Lleyton Hewitt’s hand and paused for a chat with Tim Henman. Then he returned for a long, lengthy embrace with his brother Jamie.
After leaving Centre Court to a standing ovation, he walked back under the awning where the Rudyard Kipling’s famous words are inscribed; “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those impostors just the same.” He did that.
Then he collapsed inside, resting his head on his arms, exhausted. Just ten days ago he had surgery to remove a cyst on his spine. He is playing with a metal hip. It is astonishing. And even with all the setbacks, he loved the sport right to the end.
“Everyone has different journeys, but I have always loved the sport. I was always desperate to get back on the court. I never lost that,” he said.
As darkness fell on Wimbledon, hundreds of fans remained at the All England Lawn Tenns Club, chanting his name. “Andy. Andy. Andy.” What a ride it has been. A champion departs centre stage.
AN AUSSIE LEGEND WITNESSES THE GREATS
A year ago Australian captain Pat Cummins was among the most reviled men in England after the drama of the second Test of the Ashes at Lords.
The ill-feeling that unfolded at the hallowed ground reverberated at Wimbledon in the fortnight at followed following Alex Carey’s brilliant stumping dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.
Of course, we know that even members of the English side were aware of Bairstow’s sloppy habit of wandering from his crease too quickly thanks to a documentary released this week.
All has been forgotten at SW19, at the very least, for the champion fast bowler was a guest of honour in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Thursday for a feast of world-class tennis.
Cummins, previously the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, had the opportunity to watch legend Novak Djokovic and dominant women’s number one Iga Swiatek in action, before the emotional tribute to Andy Murray.
Nor is Cummins the only sporting royalty in town.
Australian icons Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall will attend a much loved annual function at the unofficial “Australia House” on Friday where the greats of the sport from down under will be honoured.
NOVAK SUBS IN SON AFTER NICK JUGGLES MULTIPLE GIGS
Djokovic, a seven-time champion, is understandably a highly-sought after hitting partner given his all-round excellence, but the Serbian was stood-up by a new mate this week.
After Nick Kyrgios spoke of his excitement about practising with the 24-time major champion ahead of a return to the tour, the reality of a life juggling jobs got in the way for the Australian.
Djokovic, who will play Alexei Popyrin on Saturday after surviving a scare from Scottish wildcard Jacob Fearnley on Thursday, instead opted to hit with No.1 American Taylor Fritz.
But Djokovic revealed the man who he beat in four sets the 2022 Wimbledon final had asked for a rain cheque when leaving the Aorangi Park practice courts.
“He couldn’t in the end because of commentary commitments and the practice being delayed by the rain,” Djokovic said.
“I hope it will happen later in the week. It was a shame because we were both excited for it.”
It will be intriguing to see whether Kyrgios reschedules the on-court date with Djokovic for Friday given the No.2 seed stands in the immediate path of Alexei Popyrin and potentially Alex de Minaur later in the tournament.
AN OLYMPIC DREAM FOR THE AUSSIES
With the Olympics around the corner, the merits of tennis being part of the games has again been a topic of discussion given the sport has four grand slams every year.
An argument often raised by sceptics is that stars do not place enough emphasis on an Olympic gold medal and some players are prioritising their personal schedules once again. A glance at the honour roll will show that this is bollocks.
It is folly to suggest that the majority world’s best players do not care for the Olympic Games, as evidenced by the star quality of those chasing gold at Roland Garros later this month.
Only three of the world’s top 20 men will be absent for the Paris Olympics, while eight of the world’s top 10 women will also be vying for the podium.
International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty, who was at Wimbledon on Thursday, said the chance for players to represent their nations in the Olympics was something the majority treasured.
“The chance to represent their nation and compete for an Olympic medal is a truly unique privilege for any athlete and tennis players are no different,” he said.
“In Olympic tennis, any medallist will forever be identified by the medal they won, just as being a Grand Slam champion is with you forever. That’s what players will be battling for in Paris at the end of this month, and we can’t wait.”
As expected, Rafael Nadal will combine with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles, while Novak Djokovic will bid to win the one major prize in tennis to elude him for Serbia.
The Australian team will feature de Minaur, Popyrin and Hijikata in the men’s singles, along with Ajla Tomljanovic in the women’s singles.
De Minaur will partner Popyrin in the doubles, while grand slam-winners Matt Ebden and John Peers will also pair up. Tomljanovic will play with Olivia Gadecki in the women’s doubles, while Daria Saville will play with Ellen Perez.
The mixed doubles combinations will be formed once the players are on site.