'I wish I could play forever,' says tearful Murray at Wimbledon farewell
LONDON, United Kingdom — Andy Murray suffered a losing start in his farewell to Wimbledon on Thursday (Friday, Manila time), weeping openly in front of his adoring fans before admitting: "I wish I could play forever."
Murray, a two-time singles champion at Wimbledon, and brother Jamie were defeated 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 by Rinky Hijikata and John Peers of Australia in the first round of men's doubles.
It was the first episode of a retirement three-parter -- the 37-year-old Murray is scheduled to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon before he retires at the Paris Olympics.
After having a metal hip inserted in 2019, suffering ankle damage this year and undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his spine which ruled him out of singles at Wimbledon, Murray has reluctantly accepted the writing is on the wall.
His career has yielded three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic golds, a Davis Cup and the world number-one ranking.
"Look it's hard because I would love to keep playing but I can't. Physically it is too tough now, all of the injuries, they have added up and they haven't been insignificant," he said.
- 'Love the sport' -
"I want to play forever, I love the sport and it's given me so much. It's taught me loads of lessons over the years I can use for the rest of my life. I don't want to stop so it is hard."
He added: "It was obviously really special to play with Jamie.
"We never got the chance to do it before (at Wimbledon). It was a bit of a race to get out here. Physically, it wasn't easy but I am glad we did it."
Tears flowed when video tributes were paid to Murray by a number of stars including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"You were never alone," said eight-time Wimbledon champion and 20-time Slam champion Federer, the man defeated on Centre Court when Murray claimed Olympic gold in 2012.
"While you carried your own dreams, you also carried theirs."
Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion at the All England Club and the holder of 22 majors, said: "We were proud to play against you."
Seven-time Wimbledon champion and the winner of 23 women's Grand Slams Serena Williams told Murray: "Your golden days belonged to everybody."
Career-long rival Novak Djokovic was
