Former world number one Andy Murray revealed on Tuesday that the Paris Olympic singles tournament would be the final competition of his career.
The 37-year-old Briton, who won the gold medal in the singles at the 2012 Games in London and four years later in Rio, said on social media that he had been honoured to play for his country.
"I'm extremely proud to get to do it one final time," he added.
Murray turned professional in 2005 and won his first title in February 2006 in San Jose in the United States.
By the middle of the following year, he entered the top 10 for the first time.
And in September 2008 at the US Open in New York, he reached a final at one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Loss
Roger Federer from Switzerland beat him in the final in straight sets. In Murray's next visit to a showdown at a Grand Slam competition at the 2010 Australian Open, Federer also dispatched him. A year later in Australia in the final, Novak Djokovic claimed the trophy.
Murray eventually captured his first major at the US Open in Sepetember 2012 following a five-set win over Djokovic.
After a loss to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final, Murray etched himself into British sporting history a year later when he beat Djokovic to become the first British man to lift the title since Fred Perry in 1936.
"Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis," said Murray as his family wept in the stands.
Murray won a second title at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in 2016 before going on to defend his Olympic crown with a four-set victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the final.
At the Paris Masters in November, Murray entered the tournament knowing that should Djokovic not reach the final, he would become world number one.
Top
And the stars aligned. Djokovic lost to Marin Cilic for the first time in 15 meetings and Murray, after beating Thomas Berdych in the last eight, moved into the final following Milos Raonic's withdrawal due to injury.
Murray, as the first British man to reach top spot in the sport since the rankings were computerized in September 1973, beat John Isner in the final.
At the season ending championships in London, Murray overcame Djokovic in the final to cement his status and end the year as world number one.
Murray became a British knight in the 2017 New Year Honours list for services to tennis and charity.
Though Djokovic, Nadal and Federer – the other members of the sport's so-called "Big Four" – continued to win major titles in their mid and late 30's, Murray's problems with his hip left him a diminished force.
His last title came at the ATP 250 Antwerp Indoor in October 2019 where he beat Stan Wawrinka.
"The last few years have been extremely difficult for me and Stan," said Murray choking back the tears after his win.
"We've had a lot of injury problems and to be back playing against him in a high quality final ... is amazing. I did not expect to be in this position. I am really happy."
"I'm sad to lose," Wawrinka told the spectators in the Lotto Arena. And turning to Murray, the Swiss added: "But it is great to see you back at this level."
Murray took a break from tennis soon after to await the birth of his third child. A fourth arrived in March 2021.
Paying tribute to Murray, former world number one Serena Williams said: “I’ll always be grateful for the support you gave me and the support you gave women and the excitement that you brought and bring to tennis.
"Watching you win Wimbledon and the US Open and those gold medals was so exciting, and I just truly enjoyed it. So I've always been such a fan as you already know, and I will always be cheering for you and rooting you on in whatever you decide to do next. So congratulations on such an amazing career.”
