Retirement doesn’t just come with a wave of emotions; it brings a whole new set of responsibilities. Who better to talk about this transition than the legendary Andy Murray? Known for his fierce competitiveness and never-say-die attitude, Murray is now channeling that energy into fatherhood. For the British tennis star, while his duties on the court may be winding down, his role as a father is just getting started.

The 37-year-old legendary tennis player played his last grass Slam match on Thursday. He had earlier decided to withdraw from the men’s singles to focus on the doubles with his brother Jamie Murray, but luck was not on his side. The brothers were handed a defeat in straight sets by their Australian opponents, John Peers and Rinky Hijikata, 7(8)-6(6), 6-4. This not only marked the end of a glorious career for Murray, who won two slams on the surface, but also made him reveal his plans with his daughters. 

Speaking after the defeat, Murray revealed that he will now aim to spend more time with his daughters, Sophia and Edie. He recalled a funny incident that not only left the audience in laughter but also brought a smile to the face of his wife, Kim Sears. Sharing the incident that took place after his back surgery, Murray said, “They were requesting, uh, piggybacks, a day after my back surgery 10 days ago.” He further revealed that he desires to spend more time with his family. “Like obviously, you know, they have been amazing. That’s something I look forward to spending more time alone.”

For the unversed, the tennis legend recently underwent a surgical procedure to remove a spinal cyst. This was the primary reason behind him pulling out of the singles category in Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Murray, who has been public about his retirement after the Paris Olympics, was emotional after defeat as he desired to keep playing forever. 

‘It is too tough,’ Andy Murray’s emotional admission after campaign-end in Wimbledon

Andy Murray is not just another player but a person who defined an era in tennis. Whenever the tennis corridor resonates with the discussion of the ‘Big Four,’ Murray’s name finds a place for himself in the list. Now, as the star player is inching closer to his retirement, he is seen as emotional after facing a defeat at Wimbledon.

Speaking to BBC after the match, Murray desired to play the sport forever. “I would love to keep playing, but I can’t physically. It is too tough now. All of the injuries, they’ve added up… They haven’t been insignificant. But yeah, I want to play forever.” Furthermore, he talked about the fortune that tennis has brought to him. “I love the sport. It’s given me so much, taught me loads of lessons over the years that I can use for the rest of my life. But yeah, I don’t want to stop, so it is hard.”

As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see if Murray can achieve bigger at the Summer Olympics and add yet another feather to his glorious cap ahead of his retirement.