PARIS, France — Andy Murray has said he is still hopeful of finishing his career on a winning note but admitted “there is no perfect ending in most scenarios.”
Murray was knocked out of the French Open in the first round on Sunday, losing in straight sets to Stan Wawrinka in what could yet be his final appearance in the men’s singles at Roland Garros.
He still plans to play alongside fellow Brit Dan Evans in the doubles in what is widely expected to be Murray’s final year on tour — in singles at least — though he is yet to confirm his retirement date.
After Roland Garros, the attention will shift to Wimbledon and the grass court season where Murray won two of his three Grand Slam titles.
“There has been a lot of talk about the right, or best, ways to go out from playing tennis. There is no perfect ending in most scenarios,” Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I’d like to go out with winning a match or winning a tournament but it doesn’t really happen that way for most players.”
Wawrinka ended Murray’s Roland Garros run at the first hurdle, defeating him 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. After the match, the two had a lengthy embrace at the net. “He’s [an] amazing champion, amazing guy,” Wawrinka said of Murray. “I think he has a lot of fans, a lot of people start playing tennis because of him. I respect him a lot.
“I enjoyed playing him a lot last 20 years. We played so many times, so many big battles. Hopefully he’s going to keep going a little bit.”
This marked the third time in a row Wawrinka ended Murray’s French Open hopes, having defeated him in the 2017 semifinals, the first round in 2020 and again on Sunday. Murray’s best result at Roland Garros was his run to the 2016 final, where he ran into Novak Djokovic.
“I did really well here over the years,” Murray said of his French Open legacy. “You know, I guess results and stuff that I think the issue for me is that when you compare it to, like, what Rafa [Nadal] or Novak achieved in the same time, it obviously is minuscule in comparison.
“But yeah, most players, you know, would sign up for the results I’ve had here. I played [the] final, I think four semis and made the quarters, a couple of times as well, maybe. Yeah, lost in the semis, I lost to Novak in five [sets], Stan in five [sets], and twice to Rafa. Obviously no shame in that.
“Yeah, in a different time maybe the results would have been a bit different. But yeah, I’m proud of the results that I had here. I had great memories. Like you said, it was not an easy surface for me. But I always showed up and, you know, put in some strong performances, considering. And yeah, it was a good run here over the years.”