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Murray Finally Realizes It’s Over
5 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
Andy Murray was one of the great ones who didn’t know when it was time to depart the sport he conquered. For almost a half decade he battled on still believing he could catch lightning in a bottle one more time and be a champion again.
Murray chased that last hurrah for years though he had nothing left to prove anymore. For years he competed like some unknown nobody ranked 400 something. He gave it everything he had until there was nothing left in his fuel tank. Yesterday the super Scot looked like he learned the inevitable truth, he’s finished.
Down 1-4 vs Jordan Thompson at Queens Club, Murray said his leg and back failed him and surrendered the match. Though, curiously, he managed to walk off the court without the limp and he carried his racquet bag, with no concern about further damaging his injured back.
Head bowed in defeat and perhaps some embarrassment – for disappointing his gigantic legion of supporters with such a hopeless effort – Murray walked out of the stadium he previously reigned at five times.
There’s no mistaking what we saw, it’s all over now. Andy Murray has nothing left in his tennis tank.
The unique aspect of Murray’s heroic but agonizing departure is he clearly was not Andy Murray for the last three years. So many of the greats of any individual sport and even team sports, realize before the public that they don’t have it anymore and they don’t want spectators to see them struggle and see them perform as a ghost of what they once were. Murray didn’t mind that, he fought tooth and nail until the bitter end, enduring so many heartbreaking losses it’s hard to count them all.
There’s something very inspiring about that. Andy Murray, the great Grand Slam champion, Olympic gold medalist, Davis Cup champ and world no. 1, won everything there was to win in pro tennis. At his best he was as mighty as any man who ever wielded a tennis racquet. But in the end, he was one of us… A hopeless hacker, totally outplayed and blasted off the court and sport by a guy most tennis observers will not remember.
But I will end this column by saluting Jordan Thompson with the respect he deserves, for he slayed two all time tennis titans this year, Murray and Nadal, and didn’t get a word of credit for either of the wins. After Nadal lost to him in January, he wouldn’t even mention Thompson by name, instead referred to him as “the opponent.”
In the cruel, ironic end of this career, Andy Murray, the former legendary champion of the sport, was just an “opponent.” But we will all remember him at his best – one of the ultimate competitor champions the sport has ever produced.
Andy Murray · Jordan Thompson · Queens Club · Wimbledon
Cory Minto · June 21, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Oh man. I hope he can muster Wimbledon and experience the love once more. I also hope that, if he can’t actually compete reasonably, that he withdraws to allow a fit player to compete instead. He seems like a guy who will do the right thing.
Great post Scoop… and nice salute to Thompson who is solid (mentally lacking sometimes of course).
Scoop Malinowski · June 21, 2024 at 2:16 pm
Thanks Cory, tough spot for Murray, obviously at the grand finale of a legendary career and he wants and deserves to close the show on his terms but will the body hold out. Could be a dud final match like Goran vs Hewitt at Wimbledon, Roddick vs Delpo at US Open, etc. Who knows if his body can even play a 3 out of 5 set match. Murray has done everything possible to extend his career and dodge this moment of closure. But it’s clearly here now, the loss to Thommo and the falling ranking are the writing on the wall. Just hope Andy Murray can finish in a manner that satisfies him and his millions of fans.
Scoop Malinowski · June 21, 2024 at 9:47 pm
Here is an old interview I did with Steve Tignor Tennis Magazine about my Facing Federer book https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/book-club-facing-federer?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3nK0oCd-wik3AfvOHi3o60Fa6wkLY61hHlL8Ph63Xyqa05aApSqoEG5c0_aem_kcTcA2dqYsfDXKJAC066AA
Steve · June 22, 2024 at 6:44 pm
Musetti from clay court specialist to grass court threat?
Saw him practice with Fognini at the US Open two years ago. I am always keen to check out the great one-handers. He has been diligently working on his serve since then and it’s paying off. His long-time coach is great.
BTW, Vottee now requires a park badge to play there. 50 bucks for non-resident. Ouch.
Scoop Malinowski · June 22, 2024 at 8:26 pm
Musetti says his goal is no. 1 in the world. It’s reachable, he can do it. More realistic than when Rune said he wants to break Nadal’s French Open 14 record. Rune may not win one French Open.