Andy Murray’s emotional sendoff amongst 2024’s farewells | ATP Tour

Better of 2024

Murray’s emotional sendoff amongst 2024’s farewells

ATPTour.com begins wanting again at retirements of 2024

December 07, 2024

To mark the top of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Greatest Of’ sequence, which is able to mirror on essentially the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and extra.

Right this moment we glance again at a few of the greatest names who known as time on their enjoying careers this 12 months. Andy Murray leads Half 1 of this story, with Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal to function in Half 2 on Sunday.

Andy Murray
The Scot bowed out in essentially the most Murray-esque method conceivable. Taking part in doubles on the Paris Olympics, the two-time singles gold medalist teamed with Daniel Evans. The pair received its first match towards Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori by saving 5 consecutive match factors from a 4/9 deficit within the Match Tie-break to grab victory.

Murray and Evans weren’t finished with their dramatic comebacks. They prolonged the previous World No. 1 Murray’s profession additional by surviving two match factors towards Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen within the second spherical earlier than dropping within the quarter-finals. After each wins, Murray celebrated as if he had simply received the gold medal, closing demonstrations of simply how a lot the sport at all times meant to the 46-time tour-level champion.

In opposition to all odds, #SirAndy 😤@andy_murray pic.twitter.com/zKm0GUDJXO

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 2, 2024

Murray spent 41 weeks as No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, claimed three main titles and tallied 739 singles wins in his laudable profession. One key turning level got here in 2012, when he captured the Olympic gold medal on the Wimbledon lawns.

Later that summer time he captured his first main title, the 2012 US Open, by defeating Novak Djokovic in a five-set closing. The match lasted 4 hours, 54 minutes – tied for the second-longest US Open closing in historical past.

The following 12 months Murray ended Nice Britain’s 77-year watch for a house males’s singles champion at Wimbledon. This was the day that the BBC mentioned “turned Murray right into a Wimbledon champion and a nationwide treasure”. Profitable Wimbledon was not the one factor Murray completed for Nice Britain. In 2015, he propelled the British group to its first Davis Cup victory since 1936.

The 37-year-old might be remembered for a profession stuffed with historic achievements, which he completed towards a few of the greatest gamers within the historical past of tennis.

“I gave as a lot as I might to the profession,” Murray mentioned on the Paris Olympics. “There are clearly issues that I look again on and need that I might have finished otherwise, nevertheless it’s been a tricky time to win main titles within the sport with the gamers that had been forward of me. I’m happy with my achievements, my efforts and I’m wanting ahead to extended relaxation now.” Learn Murray Longform Tribute.

Steve Johnson
The California native Johnson established himself as a constant pressure on the ATP Tour together with his devastating forehand, deadly backhand slice and combating spirit. Johnson turned professional in 2012 after main the College of Southern California to 4 consecutive NCAA group titles and profitable the singles crown twice. He accomplished his faculty profession with 72 consecutive singles wins.

Johnson went on to assert 4 tour-level singles trophies and attain a career-high No. 21 in 2016. He teamed countryman Jack Sock on the 2016 Rio Olympics, the place they captured the bronze medal. For 5 consecutive years from 2014-18, Johnson completed contained in the year-end High 50 and at all times proved a tricky out for any opponent. He retired in entrance of family and friends in Indian Wells.

“As I sit right here now very happy with what I completed, I felt like I did nearly every part I might in my energy to both rectify errors that I made, enjoying or all of the issues that go into enjoying tennis. I really feel like I left no stone unturned. And for me, that is a very powerful piece,” Johnson mentioned.

“I do not need to look again and have any regrets or want I might have finished X, Y and Z. So for me, I really feel very happy with what I completed. To have the profession I had, the accomplishments and every part is tremendous enjoyable to look again on. However figuring out that my spouse and ladies might not ever bear in mind me enjoying tennis, however they are going to [see those things], meaning essentially the most to me.” Learn Johnson Retirement Function.

Ivo Karlovic
Propelled by his 6’11” (2.11m) body, Karlovic boasted one of many greatest serves in tennis historical past. The Croatian is second on the all-time Aces leaderboard, having struck 13,728 aces, in response to Infosys ATP Stats. Solely John Isner has hit extra (Ace depend has been saved since 1991).

Karlovic stepped away as an eight-time tour-level singles champion who ascended to a career-high No. 14 in 2008. At Wimbledon in 2003, Karlovic made his main debut and defeated then-defending champion Lleyton Hewitt en path to his lone Slam quarter-final.

Karlovic confirmed his retirement in February, having not competed since October 2021. “I’ve had a really gratifying, unorthodox and lengthy profession coming from extraordinarily humble beginnings, particularly for a tennis participant,” Karlovic mentioned. Learn Karlovic’s ‘My Level’.

Ivo Karlovic, John Millman, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, Joao Sousa and Dominic Thiem.” model=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2024/11/15/19/06/nitto-atp-finals-2024-retirement-ceremony.jpg”>
^{From left to proper: Ivo Karlovic, John Millman, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, Joao Sousa and Dominic Thiem on the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals. Credit score: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour}

Joao Sousa
Sousa’s accomplishments made him a nationwide icon in his residence nation Portugal. The 35-year-old is the highest-ranked Portuguese participant in PIF ATP Rankings historical past (No. 28, 2016).

In 2013, Sousa turned the primary participant from his nation to win an ATP Tour title (Kuala Lumpur). He didn’t cease there. Sousa claimed 4 tour-level trophies and sometimes got here up towards one of the best gamers within the sport, incomes 5 High 10 wins. He reached the fourth spherical on the 2018 US Open and 2019 Wimbledon. Sousa fittingly introduced his profession to a detailed in entrance of residence followers in Estoril this 12 months.

“I could not ask for a greater ending. I believe that is one of the best place I might ever ask for a profession ending,” Sousa mentioned “It was very particular [winning here] in 2018, with all the gang supporting all through the entire week. So it was simply wonderful to really feel the love and the assist from my followers at residence, after all, in Portugal.” Learn Sousa Retirement Function.

John Millman
From the best of highs to the bottom of lows, Millman skilled a variety of feelings throughout a 14-year skilled profession which ended on the Australian Open. The Australian’s storied journey featured one ATP Tour title, an upset towards Roger Federer en path to the 2018 US Open quarter-finals and maximising each little bit of his potential — even within the face of adversity, akin to a number of shoulder surgical procedures.

“I hope individuals loved the journey and noticed that I left all of it on the market. In the event that they resonate with that and that story, then I’ve finished my job,” the previous World No. 33 mentioned. Learn Millman Retirement Function. 

Federico Delbonis
Delbonis was a difficult opponent, utilizing his left-handed sport to nice impact and catching followers’ consideration together with his unorthodox service movement and excessive ball toss. A two-time tour-level titlist, the Argentine reached a career-high No. 33 within the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016. He hung up his racquets in January.

“Right this moment is the top of one of the enriching journeys of my life,” Delbonis mentioned. “It’s the finish of a stage of my life by which I discovered to be a sportsman and an individual. I had some unforgettable and unbeatable moments on and off the tennis court docket.” Learn Delbonis Retirement Function.

Ryan Harrison
Harrison’s sport was as explosive as he was aggressive. Harrison reached the High 40 within the PIF ATP Rankings and likewise hit a doubles career-high No. 16. “I contemplate myself one of many luckiest individuals on the earth to have had a dream and had the chance to reside out that dream,” Harrison wrote in a retirement social media submit in January.

In 2017, Harrison was enjoying one of the best tennis of his life. He received his lone ATP Tour singles title in Memphis and partnered Michael Venus to assert the Roland Garros doubles trophy. Harrison and Venus certified for the Nitto ATP Finals that 12 months and reached the semi-finals. Learn Harrison Retirement Function.