Andy Murray has received touching messages from Katie Boulter and Dominic Thiem after revealing that he might not continue playing tennis beyond the summer. The British tennis star is ready to bow out after a remarkable career having struggled for form over the past year.
Murray, who will turn 37 in May, has not secured back-to-back wins at a tournament since last August. After being knocked out of the Dubai Championships this week, he told the BBC’s Today Programme that he could retire this summer.
The two-time Wimbledon champion insists that he would like to play in another Olympics. Murray won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, the only tennis player to secure successive golds at an Olympics.
After admitting that he may only have a few months left in professional tennis, his colleagues have paid tribute to the World No. 67. Fellow Briton Boulter, who was 16 when Murray won his first Wimbledon in 2012, said that Murray had inspired a generation of young players.
“He’s inspired a lot of players, especially in our country, definitely myself. He’s the biggest fighter, the biggest lover of tennis, his attributes.. I could go on for a very long time,” Boulter said.
“I just love seeing him out there. Even the fact that he’s out there now and he’s still going. I think as long as he’s enjoying himself and getting what he wants out of the sport, that’s the most important thing.
“When he retires, I think that’s on his terms and what he really wants to do. I can speak for a lot of people when they say they’ve loved watching him play.. I certainly have.”
Meanwhile, Austrian player Thiem wrote on X: “One of the best players ever and absolute legend of the game forever.”
Murray was deflated after his last-16 defeat against Ugo Humbert in Dubai this week. He told the Today Programme: “I’m likely not going to play past this summer. I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest.
